GES has revised the effective date for 2025 promotion arrears from July 1 to January 1, 2026. Check who is affected, what it means and what teachers should expect.

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Fact Check & Editorial Review

Editorial status: Breaking news based on an official GES letter supplied to EducateGhana.com

The Ghana Education Service has issued a letter directing the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) to revise the effective date for payment of arrears relating to staff promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

According to the letter dated 1 September 2026, the effective date has been changed from 1 July 2026 to 1 January 2026.

The directive applies to both teaching and non-teaching staff promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

The letter states that the decision followed an emergency meeting held on 31 August 2026 involving the Ministry of Education, GES, CAGD, the Ministry’s Technical Advisor and representatives of teacher and education-sector unions.

EducateGhana.com will continue to monitor the implementation of the directive by CAGD.

Key Takeaways

• GES has directed CAGD to revise the effective date for arrears relating to the 2025 promotion exercise.
• The effective date has reportedly changed from 1 July 2026 to 1 January 2026.
• The change applies to both teaching and non-teaching staff promoted under the 2025 exercise.
• The revised date potentially covers the full January to December 2026 period for affected staff, subject to the applicable salary and promotion arrangements.
• The decision followed an emergency meeting held on 31 August 2026.
• The meeting involved government, GES, CAGD and representatives of GNAT, NAGRAT, PRETAG and TEWU.
• GES stated in the letter that the arrangement remains within the approved budget for the 2025 promotions.
• CAGD is the institution expected to implement the revised payroll arrangement.

➡️ Related: GES Promotion 2025: Promotion Process, Results and Salary Arrears Explained
➡️ Also Read: Teacher Promotion and Salary Progression in Ghana

In Brief

The Ghana Education Service has directed the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to change the effective date for payment of arrears for staff promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

The new date stated in the GES letter is 1 January 2026, replacing the previously indicated date of 1 July 2026.

The directive covers both teaching and non-teaching staff who were promoted under the 2025 exercise.

The development could significantly affect the arrears payable to eligible promoted staff because the revised effective date moves the start of the arrears period six months earlier.

➡️ Related: GES Promotion Results and Appointment Letters Explained
➡️ Also Read: How Teacher Promotion Affects Salary and Arrears

Introduction

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revised the effective date for the payment of arrears for staff promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

In a letter dated 1 September 2026, referenced GES/HQ/DG/533/2026, the GES Management directed the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) to use 1 January 2026 as the effective date instead of the previously indicated 1 July 2026.

The directive applies to both teaching and non-teaching staff who were promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

The decision follows an emergency meeting held on 31 August 2026 involving key stakeholders in Ghana’s education and public-sector payroll system.

➡️ Related: Ghana Education Service: Promotion, Recruitment and Salary Updates
➡️ Also Read: Teacher Salaries and Conditions of Service in Ghana

GES Revises Effective Date From July to January 2026

The major change concerns the effective date attached to the payment of arrears.

Previously, the effective date for the affected 2025 promoted staff had been indicated as 1 July 2026.

The new directive changes that date to 1 January 2026.

According to the letter, the decision applies to all staff who were promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise, covering both teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The change means that eligible staff whose promotion salary adjustments are implemented under the directive could have their arrears calculated from an earlier point in 2026.

The actual amount payable to each individual will depend on the applicable salary difference, promotion placement and payroll implementation.

➡️ Related: GES Promotion Arrears: How They Are Calculated
➡️ Also Read: Teacher Salary Placement After Promotion in Ghana

What the New Effective Date Means for Promoted Staff

Under the previously indicated date of 1 July 2026, the affected arrears period would have begun in July.

Changing the effective date to 1 January 2026 moves the starting point six months earlier.

Therefore, an eligible promoted employee whose salary adjustment is implemented for the full period could have arrears covering January through December 2026, rather than July through December.

This does not mean that every affected teacher will automatically receive an identical amount.

Arrears depend on individual salary circumstances, including the difference between the previous salary and the salary applicable after promotion.

For this reason, teachers should distinguish between the number of months covered and the actual amount payable.

➡️ Related: How to Calculate Teacher Promotion Arrears in Ghana
➡️ Also Read: Teacher Salary Calculator and Promotion Pay Guide

Emergency Meeting Held on 31 August 2026

The GES letter indicates that the decision was reached during an emergency meeting held on 31 August 2026.

The meeting brought together representatives from key institutions and organised labour.

According to the letter, the participants included:

• The Ministry of Education, led by the Minister and Deputy Minister for Education.
• The Ghana Education Service, led by the Director-General.
• The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, led by the Controller and Accountant-General.
• The Technical Advisor to the Minister for Education.
• Teacher and education-sector unions, including GNAT, NAGRAT, PRETAG and TEWU, represented by their respective General Secretaries or President.

The meeting therefore brought together the major stakeholders involved in education administration, public-sector payroll and labour relations.

➡️ Related: GNAT, NAGRAT, PRETAG and TEWU: Roles in Teacher Welfare
➡️ Also Read: Teacher Unions and Salary Negotiations in Ghana

GES Says Arrangement Is Within Approved Budget

Another important point contained in the letter concerns funding.

GES stated that the revised arrangement remains within the approved budget for the 2025 promotions for teaching and non-teaching staff by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance.

This statement is significant because salary arrears involve public expenditure and require coordination between education authorities, payroll administrators and government financial institutions.

The revised effective date therefore reflects a decision reached within the stated budgetary framework for the affected promotion exercise.

➡️ Related: Ghana Education Service Budget and Teacher Compensation
➡️ Also Read: How Government Budget Decisions Affect Teachers’ Salaries

What CAGD Is Expected to Do

The letter was addressed to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, which is responsible for implementing government payroll arrangements.

GES has directed CAGD to make the effective date 1 January 2026 for both teaching and non-teaching staff promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

The next important stage is therefore payroll implementation.

Affected staff should look out for official payroll updates and salary statements showing how the revised effective date has been applied.

Teachers should avoid relying solely on unofficial figures circulating on social media until their individual payroll records reflect the adjustment.

➡️ Related: Controller and Accountant-General’s Department: How Government Payroll Works
➡️ Also Read: How Teachers Can Check Salary and Payroll Updates

Who Is Affected by the Revised Date?

The directive specifically concerns staff who were promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

This includes:

• Teaching staff.
• Non-teaching staff.

However, eligibility for payment and the amount of arrears should be determined from the individual’s official promotion and payroll records.

Teachers who believe they were promoted under the relevant exercise but do not see the expected adjustment after implementation should use the appropriate administrative channels to verify their records.

➡️ Related: GES 2025 Promotion: Who Qualifies for Salary Arrears?
➡️ Also Read: Teacher Promotion Records and Payroll Verification Guide

Why the Development Matters to Teachers

Promotion is an important part of the career progression of teachers and other education-sector employees.

When a promotion becomes effective for salary purposes, the employee may become entitled to a higher salary from the applicable effective date.

A delay between the promotion and the implementation of the new salary can therefore create arrears.

The revision announced by GES is important because it changes the starting date for the affected arrears period.

For teachers who qualify, the difference between a January effective date and a July effective date represents six additional months within the potential arrears period.

➡️ Related: Teacher Promotion in Ghana: Grades, Requirements and Salary Progression
➡️ Also Read: GES Career Progression for Teachers Explained

What Teachers Should Do Now

Affected teachers should take the following steps:

1. Keep Your Promotion Documents

Retain copies of your promotion letter, appointment documents and other relevant records.

2. Check Your Effective Date

Confirm that your promotion falls under the 2025 promotion exercise covered by the directive.

3. Monitor Payroll Implementation

Check your salary statements when the revised arrangement is implemented.

4. Verify Your Arrears

Compare the salary adjustment with the applicable effective date and promotion placement.

5. Use Official Channels for Queries

Where there is a discrepancy, contact the appropriate GES, regional education or payroll office rather than relying on unverified social media claims.

➡️ Related: How to Check GES Promotion and Salary Records
➡️ Also Read: Teacher Payroll Problems in Ghana: Where to Seek Assistance

Official Letter: What GES Said

The GES letter states that the effective date for payment of arrears for staff promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise should be changed from 1 July 2026 to 1 January 2026.

The letter further directs that the new effective date should apply to both teaching and non-teaching staff promoted under the 2025 exercise.

The document was copied to senior officials within the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, Ghana Education Service and related administrative and regional structures.

The letter is the primary document on which this report is based.

EducateGhana.com will update this article if GES or CAGD issues further clarification concerning implementation.

➡️ Related: GES Official Letters and Teacher Policy Updates
➡️ Also Read: Latest Ghana Education Service News

Important Clarification About the Six-Month Difference

The change from July to January creates a six-month difference in the effective date.

It is therefore reasonable to describe the revision as potentially adding six months to the arrears period for an eligible staff member.

However, the statement that every teacher will receive a specific amount of “double arrears” should be avoided.

The actual payment depends on the employee’s promotion, salary placement, applicable salary difference and the manner in which CAGD implements the directive.

Teachers should therefore wait for their official payroll calculations before determining the exact amount they are owed.

➡️ Related: Teacher Promotion Arrears Calculation Explained
➡️ Also Read: How Much Can a Promoted Teacher Receive in Arrears?

Conclusion

The Ghana Education Service has directed the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to revise the effective date for payment of arrears for staff promoted under the 2025 promotion exercise.

The effective date has been changed from 1 July 2026 to 1 January 2026, according to the GES letter dated 1 September 2026.

The directive covers both teaching and non-teaching staff and follows an emergency stakeholder meeting held on 31 August 2026 involving the Ministry of Education, GES, CAGD and representatives of teacher and education-sector unions.

For eligible promoted staff, the earlier effective date could result in an additional six months being included in the arrears period.

The actual amount payable, however, will depend on each employee’s salary and promotion records and the implementation of the directive through the government payroll system.

EducateGhana.com will continue to monitor the implementation and publish further updates as official information becomes available.

About the Author

Ferdinand Ellis
Education Researcher | Lecturer | Curriculum Specialist | Education Policy Analyst
Founder and Editor, EducateGhana.com

Ferdinand Ellis writes on Ghana’s education system, teacher careers, promotions, salaries, education policy, teacher welfare and public-sector employment.

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• GES Promotion 2025: Results, Appointment Letters and Salary Arrears
• Teacher Promotion in Ghana: Grades, Requirements and Salary Progression
• GES Promotion and Career Progression Guide
• Teacher Salary Structure in Ghana Explained
• How Teacher Promotion Arrears Are Calculated
• Latest Ghana Education Service News and Updates

Source

Ghana Education Service, letter dated 1 September 2026, Ref. No. GES/HQ/DG/533/2026.