Ministers Go Unpaid for Nine Months as Mahama Government Overhauls Payroll System
Employment and Labour Relations Minister Dr. Rashid Pelpuo disclosed on October 7, 2025, on JoyNews’ PM Express that cabinet ministers, including himself, have not received salaries nine months into President Mahama’s administration due to a major payroll system overhaul aimed at fixing long-term payment issues.
He explained that the delay is part of a “system of renewal” to ensure equitable payment for all public workers, not due to a lack of funds.
This comes amid protests by nearly 7,000 unpaid nurses and midwives, who have been without salaries for nearly 10 months since their December 2024 postings, despite 6,500 colleagues being paid since April 2025. Pelpuo linked the crisis to the previous Akufo-Addo government hiring 12,000 workers without funding, a burden inherited by the current administration.
He assured a resolution by year-end, emphasizing fairness: “If we can resolve ours, and newly employed nurses and teachers cannot resolve theirs, then there’s a problem.” MPs not serving as ministers are paid through Parliament’s separate system, but Pelpuo couldn’t confirm the status of other Article 71 officeholders.
The payroll issues, costing GH¢2 billion to address a June 2025 strike, highlight ongoing fiscal challenges for Mahama’s government.
