Gideon Boako questions Mahama’s $10bn ambition over unpaid teachers’ salaries

Tano North MP Dr Gideon Boako has questioned the credibility of President John Dramani Mahama’s US$10 billion New Economy Programme, citing delays in the payment of salaries and arrears owed to teachers.

He made this known in a write-up issued on Sunday, November 15, in which he argued that the government’s inability to resolve outstanding salary issues affecting thousands of teachers raises concerns about its capacity to mobilise and effectively deploy US$10 billion over four years.

Dr Boako cited the alleged non-payment of new salaries to 52,541 promoted teachers, despite their successful promotion, as well as concerns over the placement of teachers who passed promotion examinations.

He claimed that although 80,000 teachers passed promotion examinations, only 6,000 had been placed on the appropriate salary scale.

The MP also cited newly recruited teachers who, according to him, worked for 17 months without receiving salaries, as well as post-retirement faculty members of Kumasi Technical University who allegedly went 12 months without pay.

He further referenced industrial action by teacher unions, including GNAT, NAGRAT and PRE-TAG, on September 25, 2026, over concerns about outstanding payments and other conditions of service.

Dr Boako blamed what he described as bureaucratic delays involving the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, the Ghana Education Service and the Finance Ministry for the prolonged payment challenges.

He questioned how a government struggling to meet its existing salary obligations could credibly commit US$2 billion annually to its New Economy Programme.

“How does a government that cannot pay a teacher’s GH¢3,500 monthly salary credibly promise $10 billion?” he asked.

He added that teachers affected by the delays would not easily forget the government’s handling of their concerns.

“But teachers marking scripts without pay have long memories. Nurses without allowances have long memories,” he stated.

Dr Boako said the government must demonstrate its ability to meet existing financial obligations before making further ambitious investment commitments.