In a meeting with the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and other government officials, Ghana's teacher unions reaffirmed their decision to continue their strike. The unions, comprising the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), insist that their demands, including payment of promotion arrears, must be met before they return to the classroom.
The teacher unions expressed frustration with the government's repeated assurances, saying they now require tangible evidence of action. Isaac Baah, Head of Salaries, Grievances and Negotiations at GNAT, stated that the meeting did not yield new commitments beyond previous promises. The unions are demanding concrete steps to address their concerns, including outstanding promotion arrears and progress on negotiations over their conditions of service.
According to Isaac Baah, the unions will maintain the strike until they see evidence of the government's commitment to implementing its promises. Baah emphasized that the unions are no longer willing to rely on promises, instead seeking concrete action. The strike will continue until the unions see tangible evidence of progress on their demands.
In response to the strike, the Education Ministry outlined measures aimed at addressing some of the concerns raised by the unions. The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission will meet with the unions on October 6, 2026, to discuss their collective agreement and conditions of service. This move is seen as a step towards resolving the issues driving the strike.
The government has also established a committee, chaired by the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, to validate data related to the implementation of a 20 percent deprived-area allowance for teachers, effective January 2027. This committee aims to ensure that the government's commitment to improving teachers' working conditions is fulfilled.
Furthermore, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has been directed to submit data on promoted teachers to the Controller and Accountant-General's Department by the end of the week. This move is expected to facilitate the payment of promotion arrears, a key demand of the striking unions.
The ongoing strike by Ghana's teacher unions has significant implications for the country's education sector. With the unions refusing to back down, the government faces mounting pressure to address their demands. The situation remains uncertain, with the outcome hanging in the balance as negotiations continue.
Key points
- The teacher unions in Ghana, including GNAT, NAGRAT, and PRETAG, are demanding the payment of promotion arrears and progress on negotiations over their conditions of service.
- The Ghanaian government has established a committee to validate data related to the implementation of a 20 percent deprived-area allowance for teachers, effective January 2027.
- The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission will meet with the teacher unions on October 6, 2026, to discuss their collective agreement and conditions of service.
