Pre-tertiary teacher unions in Ghana have issued a stern warning that they will not accept any request for an extension to resolve their outstanding concerns, which have led to a nationwide strike. The unions, scheduled to meet with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu on September 28, 2026, expect the government to make immediate payments of arrears owed to them. The teachers are demanding payment of salary arrears, including deprived-area allowances and promotion arrears.
According to Communications Director of the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), Kingsley Anyimadu, the unions have no new demands to present to the government and are only expecting the outstanding payments to be made. He mentioned that there are three major issues, two of which are related to payment, and that the unions have previously engaged with government officials on these matters. The Deprived Area Allowance, which was promised to be paid by the end of September, has not been disbursed.
Anyimadu also revealed that approximately 80,000 teachers who have been promoted are yet to receive their promotion arrears. The unions had met with the Minister of Education, the Controller and Accountant-General, and the Minister of Finance in August and September, where they were assured that the outstanding payments would be settled by the end of September. However, with the end of September and the non-payment of arrears, the unions are now insistent on receiving payment.
The nationwide strike was declared by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and PRETAG over unresolved concerns, including unpaid promotion arrears and delays in negotiations on their conditions of service. The unions have emphasized that they will not accept any further requests for more time to resolve the issues, stressing that they have gone beyond meetings and are now at the point of payment.
The meeting between the unions and the Education Minister is set to discuss the concerns of the teachers, but Anyimadu has made it clear that the unions will not entertain any attempts to plead for more time. He stressed that such a move would be met with resistance from teachers, who are eagerly awaiting the payment of their arrears. The unions are adamant that payment is the only solution to the current impasse.
The situation has become increasingly tense, with teachers expecting immediate action from the government. The unions have maintained that they will not back down until their demands are met. The government's response to the situation remains uncertain, but it is clear that the teacher unions are resolute in their determination to receive the payments owed to them.
The outcome of the meeting between the unions and the Education Minister will likely have significant implications for the future of education in Ghana. If the government is unable to meet the demands of the teachers, the strike may continue, causing disruptions to the education system. Key issues, including the payment of deprived-area allowances and promotion arrears, remain unresolved.
Key points
- The teacher unions have warned that they will reject any request for more time to resolve outstanding issues.
- Approximately 80,000 teachers who have been promoted are yet to receive their promotion arrears.
- The unions expect the government to make immediate payments of arrears owed to them.
