Relief for GES Staff as Salary Arrears Dating Back to 2024 Get the Green Light for Payment
After months of waiting, thousands of Ghana Education Service (GES) staff are finally set to receive salary arrears that have been outstanding since August 2024. The GES has confirmed that payments have been approved and disbursements will begin in May 2026, bringing long-overdue financial relief to eligible employees across the country’s education sector. The approval follows clearance granted by the Ministry of Finance, which communicated its authorisation to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to proceed with processing the payments. In a circular issued by the Acting Deputy Director-General for Management Services, Prof. Smile Dzisi (Mrs.), GES confirmed that the approval covers arrears accrued between August 2024 and November 2025. The arrears will not be paid in a lump sum. Instead, GES has outlined a structured five-installment schedule designed to ensure an orderly disbursement process. Payments are set to begin in May 2026, with subsequent instalments following in June, July, and August 2026. Each instalment is expected to cover four months’ worth of arrears, gradually clearing the backlog that has accumulated over more than a year. The phased approach reflects a deliberate effort to manage the financial obligations in a sustainable and organised manner, rather than placing an immediate strain on the payment system. To ensure that no eligible staff member is left uninformed, GES has directed all Regional Directors to cascade the information to Heads of Schools across the country. The move is intended to guarantee that those who are owed money are made aware of the development and can expect their payments in line with the approved schedule. The announcement has also been copied to key stakeholders within the Ministry of Education, the GES Council, and senior management of the Service to facilitate coordination and smooth implementation. GES framed the development as part of a broader effort to settle outstanding financial obligations and improve staff welfare within the education sector, a sector where delayed salaries and arrears have long been a source of frustration among teachers and support staff. For the employees affected, the circular marks the end of a lengthy wait. With the first payment now less than two months away, the focus shifts to ensuring that the schedule holds and that every eligible staff member receives what they are owed. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
UDS Names Prof. Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu as New Vice-Chancellor
The University for Development Studies (UDS) has a new helmsman. The university’s Governing Council has appointed Professor Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu as Vice-Chancellor, a decision that signals the institution’s confidence in a leader who has spent years shaping its academic identity from within. The appointment was made at a Council meeting held on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Professor Iddrisu will officially assume the role on June 27, 2026, and will serve until August 31, 2030. Professor Iddrisu is no stranger to UDS. He currently serves as Principal of the university’s Nyankpala Campus, a role that has placed him at the heart of the institution’s academic and administrative operations. His elevation to Vice-Chancellor is, in many ways, the natural progression of a career defined by service to the university and its mission. He is widely regarded as a visionary leader with a strong record in teaching, research, and community engagement, qualities that align closely with the development-focused mandate that UDS was founded to fulfil. His scholarly contributions and active involvement in knowledge generation have earned him the respect of peers and students alike. As Vice-Chancellor, Professor Iddrisu will take on one of the most demanding leadership roles in Ghana’s public university system. He will be responsible for providing overall academic and administrative direction, steering the university’s long-term strategic vision, and ensuring that UDS continues to deliver quality higher education that meets both national priorities and global standards. It is a broad mandate, and one that arrives at a time when universities across the country face growing pressure to innovate, expand access, and deepen their relevance to the communities they serve. For UDS, the appointment of a leader of Professor Iddrisu’s standing suggests the Governing Council is betting on continuity, experience, and a deep institutional knowledge to carry the university forward into its next chapter. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
UTAG Demands Sacking of GTEC Top Officials Over Governance Failures
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has issued a bold ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate dismissal of the Director-General and Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai and Augustine Ocloo, over what it describes as persistent overreach and governance lapses threatening the stability of Ghana’s public universities. Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, UTAG President Vera Fiador revealed that the association had first raised the alarm through a formal petition to the Presidency on February 17, 2026, outlining serious concerns about unilateral decision-making and an increasingly coercive leadership style at the Commission. Nearly two months on, UTAG says it has received no response, a silence that has now compelled the association to take its grievances public. At the heart of UTAG’s frustration is what it sees as a systematic overstepping of GTEC’s regulatory boundaries. The association argues that the Commission’s actions are eroding institutional autonomy, academic freedom, staff welfare, and the overall stability of public universities — values it considers non-negotiable in a healthy tertiary education system. UTAG levelled a string of specific accusations against the GTEC leadership, including interference in internal university governance, overriding decisions made by governing councils and academic boards, introducing unapproved appointment requirements, and disregarding established institutional statutes. The association further alleged that GTEC has wielded excessive discretionary powers, including threats to withdraw accreditation and funding, and the abrupt abolition of certain administrative roles without due process. UTAG also trained its sights on directives issued by GTEC in September and October 2025, particularly those affecting post-retirement contracts and salary administration. According to the association, these measures directly conflict with agreed conditions of service, breed uncertainty among staff, and are disrupting core academic functions including teaching and research. The association warned that the deteriorating situation is straining labour relations and could tip over into industrial action if the government fails to act. Pointing to reputational damage already done, UTAG cited a 2025 incident involving the University of Cape Coast, where GTEC temporarily withdrew accreditation services before reversing course, a move that, according to the association, created significant uncertainty for students and damaged Ghana’s standing with international academic partners. UTAG’s demands are unambiguous: the removal of GTEC’s top officials, the reversal of all contentious directives, and the swift passage of a Legislative Instrument to give full effect to the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020. The association also called for the protection of existing post-retirement arrangements and meaningful stakeholder engagement in future regulatory decisions. In a firm closing warning, UTAG gave the government 14 days to act, making clear that failure to address these concerns within that window will trigger further, unspecified action. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
CDM Warns of Generational Education Crisis Amid Teacher Shortages
Ghana’s education system stands at a crossroads as the Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) raises an urgent alarm about the nation’s deepening teacher shortage. In a statement released this week, the advocacy group cautioned that the situation, if left unchecked, could trigger a generational catastrophe for Ghana’s children. Drawing on independent assessments, CDM revealed the potential scale of the crisis: learning losses could soar to 64 percent in arithmetic and 18 percent in reading, putting more than 1.2 million children at risk of falling into learning poverty. “This is a looming generational tragedy that no responsible government should tolerate,” the conveners declared, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The group’s concern was further fuelled by the government’s silence on teacher recruitment timelines following the 2026 Budget presentation. CDM criticized the lack of transparency, noting that the absence of a clear plan has stirred anxiety among unemployed trained teachers and parents across the country. “What is most disturbing is the government’s persistent silence on teacher recruitment timelines,” the group emphasized. “Education is not a privilege; it is a constitutional right, and its continued denial to millions of Ghanaian children is unacceptable in a democratic society.” To address the crisis, CDM called for the Minister for Education to brief Parliament within 30 days and to provide quarterly progress reports, insisting that only urgent, transparent action can avert a national education disaster. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ministry of Education Vows Swift Action After Student Violence Videos Go Viral
It was a day of shock and concern as disturbing videos began to circulate on social media, allegedly showing violent acts involving students from two schools in Ghana’s Central Region. The scenes quickly drew the attention of the Ministry of Education, prompting a strong response. Deputy Minister for Education, Clement Abas Apaak, signed a statement denouncing the acts as completely unacceptable. The Ministry assured the nation that immediate steps would be taken to address the situation. “The culprits and perpetrators can expect the most severe sanctions,” the statement warned, leaving no doubt about the seriousness with which the Ministry viewed the incident. In response to the viral videos, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) was ordered to launch an urgent investigation. A crucial meeting was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 23, 2026, at the GES headquarters in Accra, bringing together the Central Regional Director, district directors from the affected areas, and the heads of the implicated schools. As the investigation unfolds, the Ministry reaffirms its unwavering commitment to discipline, safety, and order in all of Ghana’s educational institutions. The public was assured that appropriate measures would be implemented once the facts were clear, demonstrating that student welfare remains a top priority. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Newly Posted Teachers Give GES One-Month Ultimatum Over Delayed Staff IDs, Unpaid Salaries
A wave of frustration swept through the Ghana Education Service (GES) headquarters on Wednesday, February 18, as the 2024 batch of newly posted teachers staged a picket to demand urgent action over months of unpaid salaries and the delayed issuance of staff IDs. The group, who have been teaching in schools across the country since 2024, is calling on the GES to resolve these issues within one month or face “drastic action.” For many of the teachers, the situation has become dire. Some have not been paid for 12 months, others for as long as 14 months, despite having received financial clearance and diligently working in their assigned schools. The teachers say their documents, which district and regional authorities claimed were submitted, have gone missing at the national office, leaving them in limbo. Speaking to the media, Daniel Aidoo, the convenor for the group, voiced the collective frustration: “All that we are demanding is that they give us our staff IDs and acknowledge us as teachers employed by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service. We don’t want any back and forth. Whosoever is responsible for the issuance of our IDs should be held accountable.” The teachers are adamant that this cycle of delay and neglect should not be allowed to continue, warning that future batches should not have to endure the same ordeal. They have given the GES a one-month deadline to resolve the issue, stressing that if there is no progress, they will escalate their actions in pursuit of justice and recognition. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Pledges Two Million Desks for Basic Schools by 2026
President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled an ambitious plan to supply two million desks to Ghanaian basic schools by the end of 2026, a move set to dramatically improve learning conditions for students across the country. The announcement came during his address to the Ghanaian community in Zambia on Thursday, February 5, as part of his three-day state visit. President Mahama highlighted the chronic neglect of basic school infrastructure, revealing that approximately 1.2 million children currently attend classes without desks. “The basic school level has been neglected. The previous government focused mainly on SHS because of its flagship Free SHS program. Many basic schools lack textbooks and furniture, and you often find children sitting on the floor,” he remarked. He assured the community that the government is determined to tackle the problem head-on. “This year, we are going to provide two million school furnishings. By 2028, no Ghanaian pupil will have to sit on the floor to study,” President Mahama pledged. The announcement has been widely welcomed by education stakeholders. Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, commended the government for prioritising student comfort and called for swift implementation. “We hope that the desks will arrive soon because this is long overdue,” he said. The pledge marks a significant step toward bridging infrastructure gaps in Ghana’s basic education sector and ensuring that every child has a comfortable and dignified environment in which to learn. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Orders NIB Probe Into Alleged Sale of Overseas Scholarships
President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) to launch an immediate investigation into allegations of malpractice in the award of overseas scholarships, following claims made during a radio programme. In a directive dated February 3, 2026, and addressed to the NIB’s Director-General, Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, stated that the President’s attention was drawn to comments aired on Sompa 106.5 FM. During the Twi-language broadcast, panellist and former CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, Mr. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, alleged that an individual had paid money to secure a scholarship to study abroad. The President described the accusation as serious and of significant public interest, especially in light of his administration’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and equitable access to education. The directive instructs the NIB to investigate the claims without delay, establish the facts, identify any individuals involved, and assess the credibility of the allegations. The Bureau has also been tasked with submitting its findings to the President for review and any subsequent action deemed necessary. The official communication was signed by Mr. Kwakye Ofosu on behalf of President Mahama. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Scholarship Authority Boss Backs Mahama’s Probe into Alleged Sale of State Scholarships
The Director-General of the Ghana Scholarship Authority, Mr. Alex Asafo Agyei, has thrown his support behind President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to order a full-scale investigation into allegations that government scholarships were sold to politically connected individuals. The investigation was triggered by claims made by former government official Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, who alleged during a radio interview that scholarships meant for Ghanaian students were sold to members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and others for studies in the United Kingdom. In response, President Mahama has tasked the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the matter. In a statement issued on Tuesday, January 3, Mr. Agyei described President Mahama’s move as necessary and timely, stressing the importance of protecting the credibility of Ghana’s scholarship system. He firmly rejected allegations linking the Scholarship Authority to such deals, explaining that under his watch, no scholarship had been granted for studies in the UK. “For instance, if you take the Ghana Scholarship Authority, under my leadership as Director-General, not a single scholarship award has been made for anyone to study in the United Kingdom, as he alludes. This position has been well communicated to institutions in the UK,” he emphasized. Mr. Agyei also criticized the previous administration, alleging that the scholarship scheme was marred by irregularities, including the issuance of “fake awards” by the former Registrar as recently as March 2025. He highlighted that the current administration has enacted reforms to restore fairness, transparency, and merit to the scholarship process, with a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and political favoritism. “The era where the rich, connected and influential cornered scholarships outside merit is over,” Mr. Agyei declared, pledging the government’s ongoing commitment to accountability. He assured the public that any wrongdoing uncovered by the NIB’s investigation would be met with decisive action, adding, “For every act of plunder perpetrated against the nation, full accountability will be demanded, and the time for reckoning is fast approaching.” The NIB probe is expected to verify the claims and recommend appropriate measures to safeguard the integrity of state-sponsored scholarships.
The Broken Chalkboards: Upper East Peace Council Chair Decries Rising Student Riots
Alhaji Sumaila Issaka, Chairman of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, has voiced grave concern over the growing trend of student riots in the region, a worrying development he believes is fast becoming a destructive norm among secondary schools. In a recent interview for the documentary “The Broken Chalkboards,” produced by Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen for Apexnewsgh, Alhaji Issaka laid bare the scale of the problem and the urgent need for dialogue and reform. “It’s been a very difficult situation in this region, especially the way this rioting has been going on. It’s now like a canker and so contagious. The moment Zamstech demonstrates, the next day Gowrie is demonstrating, the next day Bongo is demonstrating, the next day Big Boss, and then on and on,” Alhaji Issaka lamented. He noted that while older institutions such as Navrongo Senior High School, Notre Dame, and Bawku Senior High School, as well as the training colleges, where students are considered adults, rarely report such incidents, the wave of unrest continues unabated among the newer institutions. “What I personally don’t understand is why these demonstrations, when you have an SRC that can present your grievances to the authorities,” he added, underlining his bewilderment at the preference for destructive protest over dialogue. Kindly watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/GSQR3-T6EaE. The Peace Council, Alhaji Issaka revealed, had previously initiated peace clubs in several schools as a proactive measure to curb the violence. However, these efforts were hamstrung by a lack of funding, making it impossible to sustain regular outreach. “It’s been of great disturbance to us, especially the destruction on the campuses,” he said, noting the heartbreak of seeing already scarce resources in one of Ghana’s poorest regions destroyed by students themselves. He recalled, “They will not pass Presec or Achimota and give us a bus here if the supplies are very few. Yet we continue to destroy the few that we have. When we went to school, we didn’t demonstrate, but now it’s like they are so proud of it.” Alhaji Issaka expressed his frustration at the often trivial reasons for these demonstrations. “Most of the time they are so flimsy, so annoying that you cannot tolerate them,” he said. He cited the example of students at Gowrie Senior High School insisting on shower facilities despite vandalizing existing ones, and then demanding the dismissal of the headmistress when standpipes were provided instead. In other cases, students ignored bans on personal electronic devices and overloaded dormitory sockets, leading to repeated fires and costly repairs, only to protest when precautionary measures were implemented. “What bothers me most is that the reasons are so flimsy. And if that is even the case, must you go and damage the property of the school? Then you keep complaining, we don’t have this, we don’t have that,” he said. He recounted students insisting on using coal pots for science practicals instead of the safer Bunsen burners of his own school days, and the paradox of demanding better conditions while destroying what little is available. The recurring destruction, Alhaji Issaka noted, ultimately impacts innocent parents who are forced to pay for damages. “After every investigation, money will be paid. And this money will come from the parents,” he explained, recounting a personal experience at Senegal Senior High, where burned motorbikes had to be replaced, ironically benefitting some teachers but compounding hardship for families. Another disturbing trend is the rise of tribalism in school leadership, a stark contrast to the diversity and harmony of past decades. “To the extent that, if you are not a Kassena-speaking boy, you cannot be Senior Prefect in Navrongo Secondary School. If you are not a Guruni speaking boy, you can’t be the Senior Prefect of Big Boss, Tongo Senior High School. If you are not a Kusasi-speaking boy, you cannot be a Senior Prefect of Bawku Secondary School. Why? So this is what is happening? Even though they are extending it to their heads, insisting that if you are not from that area, you shouldn’t be a head. Really?” he asked incredulously. He reflected fondly on the past, when students and leaders from various backgrounds worked together without division, and called the current climate “a big headache.” Despite setbacks, the Peace Council is determined to revive its outreach efforts. Alhaji Issaka detailed recent and ongoing attempts to coordinate with regional education authorities and NGOs to reintroduce peace-building programs in schools. Plans are in place to divide the council into groups and visit schools across the region, fostering dialogue and conflict resolution skills among students. The council’s goal is clear: to help students understand the importance of using the SRC as a channel for grievances, rather than resorting to violence. “Let the students understand that the SRC is there to represent them at the various meetings. And if they have any grievances, they should pass them to those committee members. So that when they go, they table it,” he advised. Alhaji Issaka believes much of the unrest stems from a lack of awareness and leadership among students, and from the influence of troublemakers. He noted that simple disputes, such as the theft of a phone, which is itself contraband, can quickly escalate into widespread violence and even tribal conflict. “Two students fight, and the Bawku incident crops up. You come, and it’s your kinsman against another man, and you just join the fight.” He urged proper reporting and resolution of issues through the appropriate channels, rather than resorting to mob justice or property destruction. “If you suspect somebody, report him to the authorities. And if they search him and find your phone, they give it to you. But these fights, now, the tribal fighting is in these two schools. Which was not the case before.” Alhaji Issaka closed with an impassioned plea for a return to civility and the prioritization of dialogue, warning that continued unrest threatens not only the schools but the entire region’s progress. “We want us to grow. Yet, we are last in everything.