The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) is set to meet with the leadership of Ghana's three striking teacher unions on Tuesday, October 6. The meeting aims to address the unions' concerns over their conditions of service, which have led to a nationwide strike. The teacher unions have been demanding the payment of outstanding arrears, particularly promotion arrears, as well as addressing other concerns related to their conditions of service.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has renewed his call for the teachers to call off their strike and return to the classroom. Speaking at the 2026 Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony on Monday, October 5, Mr. Iddrisu emphasized the importance of the teachers' role in shaping the future and urged them to consider the impact of their strike action. He expressed the government's commitment to resolving the concerns raised by the unions.
According to Mr. Iddrisu, the government, under President John Dramani Mahama and supported by Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, is prepared to engage with the unions to find a resolution to the issues. The FWSC has been given a mandate by the Minister of Finance to engage with the teacher unions on Tuesday. The Minister of Finance has empowered the FWSC to negotiate with the unions.
The 20 percent deprived-area allowance will be paid after the validation of teachers eligible for the allowance is completed. This announcement was made by the Education Minister at the 2026 Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony. The validation process is expected to be completed soon, paving the way for the payment of the allowance to eligible teachers.
The nationwide strike by the teacher unions has resulted in the disruption of academic activities in schools. The outcome of Tuesday's engagement between the FWSC and the teacher unions is expected to determine the next steps in efforts to resolve the dispute and restore normal academic activities in schools. The teacher unions have been demanding the payment of outstanding arrears, particularly promotion arrears.
Promotion arrears have remained a longstanding issue in Ghana's pre-tertiary education sector, with teacher unions repeatedly demanding that the government clear outstanding payments owed to their members. The teacher unions' demands have been ongoing for some time, and the government has been working to address these concerns. The FWSC's meeting with the unions is a step towards resolving the issue.
The meeting between the FWSC and the teacher unions on Tuesday is crucial in determining the next steps in resolving the dispute. The government has reiterated its commitment to resolving the concerns raised by the unions, and the FWSC's engagement with the unions is expected to yield a positive outcome. The teacher unions' strike has had a significant impact on the education sector, and a resolution is eagerly awaited.
Key points
- The FWSC will meet with Ghana's striking teacher unions on Tuesday to negotiate their concerns over conditions of service.
- The 20 percent deprived-area allowance will be paid after the validation of teachers eligible for the allowance is completed.
- The nationwide strike by the teacher unions has resulted in the disruption of academic activities in schools.
