Ghana's Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, is set to meet with three pre-tertiary teacher unions on Monday, September 28, 2026. The meeting aims to resolve a dispute over unpaid promotion arrears and other outstanding demands that led to a nationwide strike. The strike was declared by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) on Friday, September 25, 2026.
The teacher unions are demanding the automatic placement of teachers who successfully passed promotion examinations in December 2025 and February 2026 on the appropriate salary scales. They also want payment of arrears effective January 2026. Another demand is the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in deprived communities. The unions cited prolonged delays, unfulfilled commitments, and growing frustration over issues affecting teachers as reasons for the strike.
The Ministry of Education has expressed concern about the strike due to its potential impact on the academic calendar. The Ministry had made efforts to restore the academic calendar to normalcy following previous disruptions. Pupils and students from kindergarten through to the university reported to school in September. The meeting on Monday will bring together the unions, Education Ministry, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
One of the major concerns of the unions is the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement. The existing agreement expired, and negotiations for a new agreement, expected to be completed by June 2026, remain outstanding despite several engagements with the FWSC. The unions and relevant institutions will engage directly on the concerns and work towards ending the industrial action.
According to Hasmin Mohammed, Press Secretary of the Ministry of Education, the Minister will use the meeting to engage the unions and other relevant institutions to resolve the issues. The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the unions and relevant institutions to deliberate on the outstanding matters and seek a resolution to the dispute.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) reported that the Ministry is working towards an amicable resolution of the issues. The Ministry, FWSC, and other stakeholders will discuss the demands of the teacher unions and work towards a resolution. The strike has caused concern among stakeholders, and a resolution is expected to be reached soon.
The outcome of the meeting on Monday will determine the next steps for the teacher unions and the Ministry of Education. The teacher unions have made it clear that they are committed to resolving the issues affecting their members. The Education Minister's meeting with the unions is a crucial step towards resolving the dispute and ensuring that the academic calendar is not further disrupted.
Key points
- The Education Minister will meet with three pre-tertiary teacher unions on Monday to resolve a dispute over unpaid promotion arrears and other demands.
