The academic year is set for a turbulent start as the Coalition of Unpaid Teachers has issued a final ultimatum to the government, warning of a massive street demonstration and legal action over a year's worth of unpaid salary arrears.

Despite a series of protests held throughout 2025, the group claims that over 6,000 teachers across the country are currently being pushed into "abject poverty" due to administrative delays and the failure of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to issue necessary staff identification cards.

The issue centres on a discrepancy in compensation.

According to the Coalition, many of its members have been at their posts for between 12 and 15 months, yet have only received payment for a mere two months of service.

Lead Convenor of the Coalition, Simon Kofi Nartey, speaking in an interview with Citi FM on Sunday, January 4, highlighted the immense psychological and financial toll the delay is taking on the teachers.

“We are calling on our employer and the government at large to listen to us and have our arrears paid so that we can all have our peace of mind to continue with the good work that we are doing for the country,” he said.

A primary hurdle in the payment process is the non-issuance of Staff Identification Cards.

Without these IDs, teachers are unable to be fully integrated into the mechanised payroll system, leaving them in a state of professional limbo.

Mr. Nartey warned that the window for a peaceful resolution is closing fast. He demanded that all outstanding IDs be processed before the January 2026 payroll is finalised.

“The few that are left to be issued with their staff IDs should have it before this month’s salary comes, before we hit the street once again,” he added.

Beyond street protests, the Coalition is now consulting with legal experts to file a suit against the state.

The group argues that the current system is arbitrary, pointing out that teachers who were recruited at the same time and posted to the same regions have seen vastly different outcomes.

“Some of us started work with colleagues who have received their salaries in full, while others are still going through this ordeal. It is just unfair, and it calls for legal action to be taken against the government,” Mr Nartey emphasised.