A coalition of teachers with the rank of Deputy Director has alleged that promotions within the Ghana Education Service (GES) are based on political favouritism.

According to the aggrieved teachers, led by Mr Newell Anokye Abrefa, leadership at the GES has paid no attention to their calls for promotion over the past eight years.

The group claimed that promotions to higher ranks in the service are granted based on political connections.

"Imagine becoming a Deputy Director at the age of 40; it means that for the remaining 20 years of your active service, you are expected to remain in that rank. What is happening is that if you don’t have a political 'godfather' to support your appointment to perhaps a district or regional director position, you will remain in that rank forever," he alleged.

"Teachers are very bitter about this issue," he added.

The coalition, therefore, called on Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is seeking to become president, to urgently address their concerns or risk losing the votes of affected teachers.

"We are calling on the Vice President of Ghana to remember what happened in 2008. If he wants to win power in this country, teachers are very important," Mr Newell Anokye warned.

They also noted that the GES authorities’ failure to promote deserving teachers would not only affect their salaries and other allowances but also make them vulnerable in their retirement years.

"At the end of your career, you would go home with meagre pension benefits," he noted.

The affected teachers made these statements during a press conference held in Kumasi to express their grievances.