Approximately 170 employees of the Savannah College of Education at Daboya in the Savannah Region have embarked on an industrial action over the government’s failure to transfer them onto the public payroll, more than a year after the institution was integrated into the public Colleges of Education system.
The affected workers have vowed to remain away from work until the government takes concrete measures to ensure their inclusion on the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department payroll.
The college officially became part of the public Colleges of Education system in March 2025. However, the staff say they are yet to be migrated onto the government payroll, leaving them facing financial difficulties despite continuing to work while expecting the matter to be resolved.
Jacob Kotochi, a lecturer at the institution, explained that although the government had honoured part of its commitment by providing allowances to students, the employment and remuneration concerns of staff remained unresolved.
He noted that since the college’s absorption into the public system in March 2025, not a single employee had been placed on the government payroll.
Mr Kotochi further indicated that the prolonged delay had placed significant financial pressure on workers, particularly those with families and other dependants to cater for. He added that the rising cost of living and expenses associated with working away from their homes had worsened their situation.
According to him, the financial allowances currently provided to staff are insufficient to meet their basic needs. He disclosed that while the highest-paid employees receive less than GH¢2,000, some workers take home allowances as low as GH¢500.
Questioning how employees could adequately provide for their families with such limited financial support, he described the situation as increasingly unbearable.
Mr Kotochi stressed that the decision to withdraw their services was not taken hastily, explaining that several efforts had been made to resolve the issue through discussions with relevant stakeholders without any meaningful outcome.
He revealed that the college’s management had led engagements with traditional authorities and government representatives, including the paramount chief of Daboya, the traditional overlord and the regional minister, in an attempt to secure a lasting solution.
However, despite these interventions and repeated appeals, the workers said their concerns had yet to receive the necessary attention.
The lecturer maintained that the industrial action would continue until the government takes the necessary steps to migrate all affected staff onto the public payroll.