The Minority in Ghana's Parliament has urged the government to take immediate action to end the ongoing strike by teacher unions. The strike, which began on September 25, 2026, involves teachers from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG). They are protesting unpaid promotion-related allowances and arrears dating back to January.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, addressed a press conference in Parliament, criticizing the government's failure to resolve the impasse. He expressed sympathy for the teachers and emphasized the need for urgent action, stating that a country cannot expect to produce an educated population if it does not take care of its teachers.
The strike has disrupted teaching and learning in schools, with the unions demanding concrete action from the government to address their outstanding concerns. The Minority noted that Monday's engagement between the government and the unions produced no new resolution. The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission is expected to meet the unions on October 6.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has been given a one-week deadline to submit outstanding input forms and other documentation required to process salaries for newly promoted teachers. This deadline was communicated after the Education Minister met representatives of the teacher unions on September 28.
According to Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations at GES, the Controller and Accountant-General's Department stressed the importance of the input forms and other documentation, such as promotion letters, to complete the processing of new salaries for promoted teachers. The deadline for submission is 4 pm on October 5.
The Minority's call for urgent action comes as the strike continues to affect the education sector. The government has assured the unions of its commitment to resolving their concerns, but a resolution has yet to be reached. The teacher unions are demanding payment of their outstanding allowances and arrears, as well as implementation of the deprived area allowance.
The situation remains tense, with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission set to meet the unions on October 6. The outcome of this meeting could determine the next steps in resolving the strike. For now, the Minority in Parliament is pushing for a swift resolution to the impasse, emphasizing the need to prioritize the welfare of teachers and the education sector as a whole.
Key points
- The Minority in Parliament is demanding urgent action to resolve the teacher unions' strike over unpaid promotion-related allowances and arrears.
- The strike has disrupted teaching and learning in schools, with no resolution in sight after Monday's engagement between the government and the unions.
- The Ghana Education Service has been given a one-week deadline to submit outstanding input forms and documentation required to process salaries for newly promoted teachers.
