The Minority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament has called on the government to urgently address the concerns of teacher unions to prevent an indefinite industrial action. The unions, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), have planned a strike over unresolved issues related to their conditions of service. The Minority Caucus, led by Frank Asiedu Bekoe, Deputy Ranking Member of the Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions Committee, has expressed concern over the government's inaction.
The concerns of the teacher unions include delays in negotiating a new Collective Agreement, failure to automatically place teachers who have been promoted after passing aptitude tests, and non-payment of the Deprived Area Allowance. These issues are provided for under Section 17(2) of the 2024 Collective Agreement for Teaching Staff within the Ghana Education Service. The Minority Caucus argues that these are not new demands but agreed conditions of service that have not been implemented by the government through the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD).
The Minority Caucus has linked the dispute to poor learning outcomes, citing the performance recorded in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The Caucus argues that the concerns affecting teachers could have implications for the quality of education, saying, "when you frustrate the teacher, you fail the child." The BECE performance should prompt the government to pay greater attention to the welfare and working conditions of teachers.
The Caucus has criticized the government's failure to fully implement agreements reached with the teacher unions, including directives relating to the Deprived Area Allowance. The Minority Caucus is calling on the government to immediately engage GNAT, NAGRAT, and PRETAG and conclude negotiations on the new Collective Agreement. The Caucus also demands that the Controller and Accountant-General's Department place all promoted teachers on their new grades and pay their outstanding arrears from January 2026.
The Minority Caucus is also demanding the immediate implementation of the 20 percent Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in hard-to-reach communities. Frank Asiedu Bekoe emphasized that the government must prioritize the concerns of teachers and the broader needs of the education sector. "Government must prioritize the classroom over distractions. If we lose our teachers, we lose our nation," he said.
The teacher unions have announced an indefinite industrial action over the unresolved issues, putting further pressure on the government to engage the unions and address their concerns. The Minority Caucus's call for action comes as the government faces criticism for its handling of the education sector. The Caucus's demands are aimed at addressing the welfare and working conditions of teachers, which are seen as critical to improving the quality of education in Ghana.
The situation is being closely watched by stakeholders in the education sector, who are concerned about the impact of the strike on students and the overall education system. The government's response to the Minority Caucus's demands and the teacher unions' concerns will be crucial in determining the outcome of the situation. Key points:
Key points
- The Minority Caucus is demanding immediate payment of teacher arrears and implementation of the 20% deprived area allowance.
- The teacher unions have planned an indefinite industrial action over unresolved issues related to their conditions of service.
- The Minority Caucus has linked the dispute to poor learning outcomes and emphasized the need for the government to prioritize the concerns of teachers.
