CAGD pays promotion salary arrears to 56,003 teachers

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has fulfilled its commitment to pay promotion-related salary adjustments and arrears to 56,003 teachers within the Ghana Education Service (GES). These payments, which address financial entitlements dating back to January 1, 2026, were processed and disbursed by October 15, 2026. This achievement comes ahead of the October 16 deadline previously agreed upon during negotiations between the government and teacher unions, marking a significant step in resolving recent labor disputes in the education sector.

According to the CAGD, the vast majority of the beneficiaries—49,725 teachers—received their arrears alongside their regular October salaries. This follows an earlier round of disbursements in September 2026, when 6,278 teachers received their adjusted payments. While 56,633 teachers were initially slated for the adjustment, 630 cases remain pending due to specific verification issues. The department has indicated that these outstanding cases will be cleared as soon as the necessary documentation is validated.

The disbursement follows a period of industrial unrest within the pre-tertiary education sector. Teacher unions launched a nationwide strike on September 25, 2026, to protest delays in the payment of promotion-related benefits. The industrial action, which disrupted academic calendars across the country, was suspended on October 9 following a stakeholder meeting led by the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu. At that meeting, the government provided firm assurances that the financial benefits associated with the teachers' new ranks would be paid by the October 16 deadline.

Despite the successful payment to over 56,000 staff, approximately 23,367 promoted teachers are still waiting for their cases to be processed. The CAGD explained that it is currently waiting for the Ghana Education Service to submit the required documentation for these remaining personnel. The department expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education, the GES, and various teacher unions for their cooperation in meeting the payroll requirements and pledged to finalize the remaining payments as soon as accurate records are provided.