The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government has set up a committee to validate data and determine which teachers are eligible for the proposed 20% deprived-area allowance. The committee, which includes representatives of teacher unions and the Ghana Statistical Service, is expected to develop a roadmap for implementing the allowance. This move is part of the government's efforts to address concerns raised by teacher unions, which have triggered a nationwide strike.
The proposed allowance is one of the outstanding issues raised by the three teacher unions, alongside concerns over promotion-related salary arrears and negotiations for a new collective agreement. The unions, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), began their nationwide industrial action on September 25, 2026, disrupting teaching and learning in public schools.
According to Minister Iddrisu, the validation committee has been tasked with examining the available data and working with the unions to establish a clear basis for implementation. The committee will help define a deprived area and determine the categories of teachers who should benefit from the allowance. The Minister noted that some data already exists, and the committee's work will build on this foundation.
The Education Minister disclosed this information during a meeting with the teacher unions on Friday, October 2, 2026. The meeting, which involved the Education, Finance, and Labour Ministers, was part of the government's efforts to resolve the issues underlying the strike. Minister Iddrisu emphasized that the commitment to introduce the allowance remains part of the government's policy agenda.
The proposed 20% deprived-area allowance aims to support teachers working in deprived areas. The government's policy agenda includes providing incentives to teachers working in these areas to improve education outcomes. The allowance is expected to be a key component of this strategy.
In addition to the deprived-area allowance, the government has also committed to validating 51,000 teachers' promotion arrears for October payment. The Education Minister has appealed to the teacher unions to call off their strike, assuring them that the government will not renege on its promises.
The teacher unions are set to meet with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on October 6, 2026, as part of the ongoing negotiations. The government is working to resolve the issues underlying the strike and ensure that teaching and learning resume in public schools.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has established a committee to validate data and determine which teachers qualify for the proposed 20% deprived-area allowance.
- The committee includes representatives of teacher unions and the Ghana Statistical Service.
- The proposed allowance is one of the outstanding issues raised by the teacher unions, which have triggered a nationwide strike.
