The Government of Ghana has approved the release of over GHC1.1 billion to pay salaries owed to more than 6,200 teachers and nurses who recently picketed at the Ministries of Education and Health over months of unpaid allowances.
Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who made the disclosure at a press conference in Accra Tuesday, October 14, 2025, said Cabinet has given the green light for the affected teachers — and some health professionals — to be formally absorbed into the public sector payroll.
“A few weeks ago, myself and the Chief Director received a petition from some teachers over their unearned salary for a number of months without pay,” the Minister stated.
“I am happy to announce that Cabinet has given approval for the 6,200 teachers to be absorbed in the process in due course. As I assured them, they will get their back pay.”
He further explained that the approval covers both health workers and teachers, emphasizing the government’s commitment to preventing further industrial actions.
“Cabinet gave approval to spend about 1.1 billion cedis to absorb a category of health workers and teachers. The process will start soon,” he said.
“I am confident this will prevent teachers and health professionals from picketing at the various ministries.”
School placement scandal: More arrests, tighter controls
Turning attention to the Computerized School Placement System (CSSPS), Haruna Iddrisu reiterated his resolve to address the persistent challenges and alleged corruption surrounding the system.
“We are doing our best. Category A, Category B, Category C — justifiably, everybody wants their child to go to a Category A school,” he said.
“In recent years, we haven’t expanded infrastructure. I have the blessing of the President to ensure that the budget is raised to expand infrastructure in Category A schools to accommodate more students.”
The Minister confirmed that more than three individuals have already been arrested in connection with alleged bribery and manipulation of the placement system.
“They are even more than three,” he revealed. “We have improved our cybersecurity systems, which allow us to monitor and police what is associated with the placement.”
“A few weeks back, we got National Security to arrest three individuals. We will allow the law to deal with anybody found culpable.”
To tighten access and accountability, the Ministry has restricted access to the CSSPS portal, including to top officials.
“For now, we have limited access to the portal as part of our management of it,” the Minister explained.
“Me sitting here — I don’t have access to the portal. My deputy does not have access either. That way, we can hold the individual with access fully accountable. That is the strategy we are using.”
The Ministry says it remains committed to ensuring transparency and fairness in the school placement process and will continue to collaborate with national security to root out corruption.
