Delayed Salary Updates for Promoted Teachers: CAGD responds to teacher unions

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has addressed concerns raised by major teacher unions regarding delays in updating salary scales for promoted teachers, clarifying that payroll adjustments depend entirely on required documentation from the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The statement follows recent complaints from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers’ Association of Ghana (PRETAG).

Reassuring public sector workers of its commitment to prompt and accurate salary disbursement, CAGD explained that Ghana’s public payroll operates through two interconnected systems: the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS), managed by employers such as GES, and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database 2 (IPPD2), managed by CAGD.

Under established guidelines, the employer must first effect promotions within HRMIS before forwarding the necessary documentation to CAGD for validation.

This documentation includes a completed promotion/change-of-grade input form signed by authorized personnel and a copy of the employee’s promotion letter.

“CAGD wishes to emphasise that these documents are not mere administrative formalities,” the department stated.

“They are essential for payroll validation and are designed to prevent fictitious promotions, unauthorised salary adjustments, and irregular payments,” it added.

At an August 31 stakeholder meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, officials agreed that GES would submit master lists, promotion letters, and input forms to enable CAGD to process promotion arrears backdated to January 1, 2026.

Out of an anticipated 58,620 cases, CAGD received 6,079 completed submissions from GES as of September 22. The department confirmed that all 6,079 validated cases were fully processed and paid alongside September 2026 salaries.

“CAGD has processed every valid case received from GES. Any outstanding payment therefore relates to cases for which GES is yet to submit the requisite documentation for validation and processing,” the statement added.

Urging stakeholders to avoid public statements that could create anxiety, CAGD reiterated its readiness to work alongside the Ministry of Education, GES, and teacher unions to resolve any remaining issues.