Unpaid nurses and teachers to be paid before end of 2025

Newly posted Ghanaian nurses, teachers, and junior doctors have been demonstrating for the last three months for their unpaid salaries, which have been outstanding for almost 12 months.

Dr Abdul-Rashid Pepuo, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, has assured the aggrieved nurses and teachers that the Ghanaian government will pay all outstanding salary arrears owed them before the end of 2025.

Speaking at the Ghana Health and Labour Summit in Accra, Dr Pelpuo described the delays in salary payments as unacceptable and pledged swift action to resolve the issue.

He emphasised that the government is committed to upholding dignity at work, which includes timely and fair compensation for public sector workers.

Dr Pelpuo revealed that his ministry is working closely with the Ministries of Finance, Health, and Education to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and expedite the payment process.

He acknowledged the frustration among affected workers, many of whom have gone months without pay, and emphasised that the administration is committed to preventing further hardship.

The fate of unposted teachers and nurses

In addition to addressing arrears, Dr Pelpuo highlighted the broader fiscal challenges facing the government.

He noted that employing all 144,000 trained but yet-to-be-posted teachers and nurses would consume nearly 47% of Ghana’s annual revenue.

This underscores the delicate balance the government must maintain between expanding public sector employment and managing its wage bill responsibly.

The promise to clear salary arrears by year-end has been welcomed by labour unions and civil society groups, who view it as a critical step toward restoring trust and morale among public sector workers.

As the deadline approaches, stakeholders will be watching closely to ensure that the government delivers on its commitment and that affected workers receive their due compensation without further delay.