GNAT Warns of Possible Industrial Unrest Over Delayed CPD Allowance Payment
The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Tanko Musah, has issued a strong warning to the government, calling for immediate intervention from the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to avert possible industrial unrest among teachers.
His appeal follows growing anger among teachers nationwide after delays in the payment of the November 2025 salaries and the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) allowance.
On November 25, 2025, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) announced that the CPD allowance, scheduled for November, could not be processed due to a technical hitch encountered during the final payroll run. The Department rescheduled the payment to December 18, 2025 a development that has deeply unsettled teachers.
Teachers Feel Betrayed
Speaking to the media, Mr. Musah described the mood within the teaching workforce as “deeply troubling”, stating that teachers feel betrayed by the unexpected delay after assurances from both the Ministry of Education and the GES earlier this year that the allowance would be paid without challenges.
“Last year it was paid in September, and this year it was supposed to be paid this month. Everything has been done — validation has been done — and when the validation was completed, there was an indication that the allowances would be paid,” he explained.
He added that union leaders now find themselves in a difficult situation after confidently communicating to members that payment would be made in November.
ALSO READ: GES Invites Teachers to One-Day Capacity Building Workshop on NTC Teacher Portfolio Development
“Now the implication is that we have lied to them… and since yesterday till now, it has not been easy,” he lamented.
Background to the CPD Allowance
The CPD allowance, initially set at ₵1,200 and later increased to ₵2,400, is a negotiated benefit enshrined in teachers’ collective agreement and conditions of service. It supports teachers’ professional development activities and was last paid in September 2024, after the government released millions of cedis to cover that cycle.
Teachers expected similar timely payment this year, making the sudden postponement even more frustrating.
Call for Immediate Government Action
Mr. Musah is urging the Minister of Education and the Ghana Education Service to act swiftly to calm the rising tension.
“Both the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service should respond to this difficult situation as soon as possible. The Minister gives policy direction, and the GES is the employer. Teachers want to hear from them on exactly what the issues are,” he stressed.
With teachers already expressing dissatisfaction on various platforms, labour analysts warn that failure to address the concerns promptly could lead to industrial action, a situation that would disrupt teaching and learning nationwide.
Join our WHATSAPP CHANNEL, WHATSAPP GROUP 1, WHATSAPP GROUP 2 and TELEGRAM CHANNEL to get all relevant teaching resources to make your lessons effective.
Subscribe to this blog and follow us on facebook
