Savannah College of Education teachers decry 19 months without payroll migration

One hundred and seventy striking teachers from two local associations at the Savannah College of Education, including the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG), have spoken out about the lack of a payroll migration process. They argue that the unresolved issues surrounding staff remuneration, recruitment, and migration to the government payroll pose a threat to their welfare and the proper functioning of the college.

The teachers emphasized that their primary goal is not to undermine government efforts or overlook the progress made since the college transitioned into a public institution. Instead, they urge attention to the unresolved issues surrounding staff remuneration, recruitment, and migration onto the government payroll, which continue to affect the college and its staff.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Daboya, the Savannah Region, the associations' members explained that the college's transition into the public system is not complete as long as staff continue to work without government-paid salaries and a clear plan for their transition. Established in 2022, the Savannah College of Education aimed to support teacher preparation and address the shortage of professional teachers in the region.

However, in 2024, the college faced pressure from students due to its private status. In response, the government absorbed the college in March 2025, following an assessment by the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (G-TEC). Since the absorption, students have been provided with an allowance, no tuition fees, and a pick-up vehicle, but the teachers have yet to receive the benefits of the college's public status.

The leadership of CENTSAG and CETAG acknowledged the importance of integrating the college into the public teacher education system but expressed disappointment that the staff have not yet reaped its full benefits. They noted that while the transition has progressed in some areas, the issues surrounding staff remuneration and migration remain unresolved.

The teachers emphasized that while they appreciate the government's financial obligations to students, they are concerned about the inconsistencies in the implementation of the transition. Specifically, they highlighted the disparity between the support extended to students and the infrastructure provided and the unresolved welfare of staff.

The most pressing concern, according to the teachers, is that no Savannah College of Education staff member has received a salary from the government since the college's absorption in March 2025. They stressed that their requests are not for special treatment but rather for fair and timely remuneration that aligns with their service in a public institution.