GES warns teachers against protests during contact hours

Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned teachers, particularly newly recruited staff, against picketing at the headquarters or engaging in media protests during productive working hours.

In a directive dated March 9, 2026, and addressed to all Regional Directors of Education, the service said it had observed a growing trend where some teachers bypass established administrative channels to raise issues.

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According to GES directive signed by Munaru Issahaque, Acting Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access, for the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, some teachers have been forming unrecognised splinter groups and besieging the headquarters to press home their concerns.

“Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed a growing trend in which some teachers, particularly newly recruited staff, frequently besiege the Headquarters, form unrecognized splinter groups, or engage the media regarding their concerns,” the statement said.

The service added that these actions often occur during official school hours, with teachers leaving their duty posts without informing their heads of school or the relevant district and regional authorities.

“These actions often occur during official school hours, with teachers leaving their duty posts without recourse to their Heads of School, District Directorates, or Regional Directorates,” it noted.

GES emphasised that the teaching profession is governed by a code of conduct that requires all staff to uphold high standards of professionalism.

“The teaching profession is a noble one governed by a Code of Conduct. Every member of staff is mandated to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in strict compliance with this Code,” the statement added.

The service further directed that teachers with concerns must first report them to their Heads of School before escalating them through the appropriate district and regional administrative channels.

“Teachers with concerns regarding any issue are required to first lodge such concerns with their Heads of School, and subsequently escalate them through the District and Regional Directorates, as appropriate,” it stated.

GES also warned that any teacher found at the headquarters or engaging media interviews during official school hours would be treated as being absent from duty.

“Any teacher who leaves their duty post and is found at the Headquarters or elsewhere during official school hours, or who is captured on video or audio granting media interviews or participating in related activities during such hours, shall be treated under ‘Absence from Duty’ as stipulated in the Code of Conduct,” the directive stressed.

Management has therefore instructed Regional Directors to ensure strict compliance with the directive and to supervise district directors and heads of schools accordingly.

“District Directors and Heads of School must record any instance of teacher absenteeism and report it to Management,” the statement said.

GES, however, assured staff that their welfare remains a priority and urged them to address concerns through the established administrative channels.

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“Management assures all staff that their welfare remains a priority and reiterates its firm commitment to addressing legitimate concerns through due process and structured engagement,” it stated.

Read the statement below;

MAG/VPO

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