Savannah College of Education teachers decry 19 months without payroll migration

About one hundred and seventy striking workers of two local associations at the Savannah College of Education, namely, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana [CETAG] and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG), say the unresolved issues surrounding staff remuneration, recruitment and migration of members to the government payroll are a threat to their welfare and the smooth administration of the college.

"Our concern is not to undermine government efforts or disregard the progress made since the college became a public institution. Rather, we seek to draw attention to the unresolved issues surrounding staff remuneration, recruitment and migration onto the government payroll, which continue to threaten staff and the smooth administration of the college," they indicated.

In a joint press conference in Daboya in the Savannah Region, members of the associations said the transition of the college into the public system can not be deemed complete while staff continue to work without government-paid salaries and a clear roadmap for their migration.

Established in 2022, the Savannah College of Education was, among other things, to contribute to teacher preparation and help address the shortage of professional teachers in the region and beyond.

But in 2024, the college came under mounting pressure from the student body regarding its private status. In response, the government subsequently absorbed the college in March, 2025 after an assessment by the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (G-TEC) in the public colleges of education.

Fast forward, students were put on an allowance, no fee stress, and a pick-up vehicle to the college. But the teachers said they have yet to realise the benefits of the public status of the college.

According to the press statement signed by the leadership of the two associations, Abdalla Abdul-Rahim for CENTSAG and Franklin Aguuri of CETAG said they recognised the importance and the need to integrate it into the public teacher education system and are yet to reap its full benefits.

"The absorption raised legitimate expectations that the college would gradually enjoy the same institutional support, administration arrangements, and staff remuneration framework as other public colleges of education."

"Unfortunately, while some aspects of the transition have progressed, the situation regarding staff remuneration and migration remains unresolved."

While acknowledging government financial obligations to students, the workers expressed concern over what they described as government inconsistencies in the implementation of the transition.

"Particularly the apparent disparity between the support extended to students and infrastructure and the unresolved welfare of staff."

"Our greatest concern, however, is the fact that no staff member of the Savannah College of Education has received salary from the Government since the college's absorption in March, 2025.

"Our staff is not asking for special treatment but for the fair and timely remuneration that should accompany our service in a public institution," they indicated.

One other major grievance that the teachers have attributed as an obstacle driving their plights is the delay in resolving the staff migration challenge in establishing the College's Management Unit.

"The creation of the Management Unit is critical to providing the administrative framework required for the effective management of the college and the processing of staff migration. Despite efforts by the leadership of the college and other stakeholders to address the situation, the process has not progressed as expected."

The striking, however, lamented that the continued uncertainty has created considerable anxiety among staff, particularly because the Management Unit is closely connected to the prospects of resolving their remuneration and migration, not forgetting the lack of a governing council for the college.