Ghana's Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, is set to meet with the leadership of three pre-tertiary teacher unions on September 28, 2026, to address their demands. The meeting will bring together the Ministry of Education, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Controller and Accountant-General's Department to deliberate on outstanding matters. This comes as the unions have declared a nationwide strike over issues including unpaid promotion arrears and delayed negotiations for a new collective agreement.
The nationwide strike, declared by the Ghana National Association of Teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers, and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana, entered its third day on September 28, 2026. The unions cited prolonged delays, unfulfilled commitments, and growing frustration over issues affecting teachers as reasons for the strike. They had expected negotiations for a new collective agreement to be completed by June 2026, but these remain outstanding despite several engagements with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
Among the teacher unions' major concerns are the delay in negotiating a new collective agreement and the automatic placement of teachers who successfully passed promotion examinations onto the appropriate salary scales. They are also demanding payment of arrears, effective January 2026, and the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in underserved communities. The unions said these outstanding issues had persisted despite several engagements with relevant government agencies.
The Education Minister's meeting with the teacher unions is seen as a crucial step towards resolving the dispute. The Ministry of Education, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Controller and Accountant-General's Department will work together to address the unions' demands. The outcome of the meeting will likely determine the next course of action for the unions, which have shown willingness to engage in dialogue.
The strike has affected schools across Ghana, with teachers demanding attention to their concerns. The unions have emphasized that their demands are aimed at improving the welfare of teachers and the quality of education in the country. The Education Minister's meeting with the unions is expected to provide clarity on the government's position and potential solutions to the dispute.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers, and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana have been engaged in negotiations with the government for some time. The current dispute highlights the challenges faced by teachers in the country and the need for a resolution to the outstanding issues. The meeting between the Education Minister and the teacher unions is a critical step towards finding a solution.
The outcome of the meeting between the Education Minister and the teacher unions will be closely watched by stakeholders in the education sector. A resolution to the dispute is expected to have a positive impact on the education system in Ghana, which has been affected by the strike. The government and the teacher unions will need to work together to find a lasting solution to the challenges faced by teachers in the country.
Key points
- The Education Minister will meet with teacher unions to address their demands, including unpaid promotion arrears and delayed negotiations for a new collective agreement.
- The nationwide strike, declared by three pre-tertiary teacher unions, has entered its third day, affecting schools across Ghana.
- The meeting between the Education Minister and the teacher unions is seen as a crucial step towards resolving the dispute and finding a lasting solution to the challenges faced by teachers.
