Some National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) workers in Ghana say they now borrow money just to get to work. They have not been paid for 14 months.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) investigated the backlog, and The Ghanaian Chronicle reported its findings on June 24, 2026. Hundreds of personnel are affected. Many were recruited after the change in government, and by GNA’s account none of that pay has arrived since they started, although they have been doing official work in districts, municipalities and regions across the country. The problem reaches staff at district, municipal and regional offices alike.
Workers describe a squeeze on every front: household needs, rent, children’s schooling and medical bills.
“We have served the nation diligently despite the difficulties. Some colleagues travel long distances to work every day using borrowed money, while others have accumulated debts simply to survive,” they said. Another worker called the situation “heartbreaking and demoralising,” adding that many colleagues are in financial distress after more than a year without a paycheck.
A third account was blunter. “We joined NADMO with the hope of contributing to disaster preparedness and emergency response efforts in our communities, but many of us now feel abandoned. Some workers can no longer afford transportation to their workplaces,” the person said.
Cards, validation and morale
Many of the staff have also never been handed official identification cards, which leaves their employment status unclear. Some say validation exercises meant to get salaries processed were scheduled and then called off.
Morale has taken a hit. Workers are asking how public servants can be expected to perform under these conditions. Governance observers cited by the report warn that unless the matter is dealt with urgently, operations could suffer at an agency that responds to emergencies, floods, fires and other disasters.
What the workers want
The affected personnel are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and NADMO’s leadership to speed up payment of the arrears. They also want a clear statement of their employment status and identification cards for every duly recruited worker.
The workers say they remain committed to serving the nation, but that the delay has put severe economic and psychological burdens on them and their families. Stakeholders are urging the authorities to set out a clear roadmap for resolving the matter.
