By Kodjo Adams
Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – The Government on Monday assured promoted teachers that their salaries will reflect their new grades, with outstanding promotion arrears expected to be paid from October 2026.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, said the upgraded salaries would be reflected in the September pay of affected teachers.
He said the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department had confirmed that the teachers had been placed on their appropriate grades.
The Minister gave the assurance at a meeting with representatives of the teacher unions on concerns over salary upgrades, promotion arrears and the payment of deprived-area allowances.
“I am happy to note that in your September salaries, you would see a reflection that all promoted teachers would be on the upgraded salary as promoted teachers,” he assured.
Mr Iddrisu said the Government had also agreed in principle to pay promotion arrears, dating back to January 2026, although some data verification issues remained unresolved.
He said about 80,000 cases were being considered, while arrangements were being made to resolve outstanding arrears for about 6,000 affected teachers.
“Whatever negotiations you conclude, be assured that we will carry it as arrears, just as we are doing for you. Promotion arrears will be paid,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu attributed some of the challenges to problems with the system used to process promotions and said the Government would engage affected teachers individually to resolve outstanding issues.
On the 20 per cent deprived-area allowance, he said the Government remained committed to honouring the agreement.
He called for the establishment of a joint committee, comprising government and teacher representatives to validate data on schools and communities classified as deprived areas.
Mr Iddrisu said the exercise was necessary to establish a common understanding of which schools were qualified for the allowance, noting differences in the classification of some schools in urban and rural communities.
He said the teachers would submit their data for comparison with government records, after which a joint validation exercise would be conducted.
The validation would be supervised by the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Mr Emmanuel Kwodwo Agyrkum, or a person designated by him.
The Labour minister, on his part, expressed confidence that the discussions would resolve the issues underlying the strike.
“I strongly believe that today we will be able to find a solution to this particular issue that is bringing all the strike,” he noted.
He expressed the hope that the resolution of the impasse would safeguard the existing academic calendar and prevent disruptions to planned activities.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Kodjo Adams
Email: [email protected]