Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu is currently in talks with the leadership of Ghana's three major pre-tertiary teacher unions - Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) - to address their concerns and end the nationwide strike that began on September 25. The meeting, which includes officials from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD), aims to find a resolution to the unions' demands.
The teacher unions are demanding the payment of unpaid promotion-related arrears, automatic placement of teachers who passed promotion aptitude tests on their appropriate salary scales, and implementation of the 20% Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in hard-to-reach communities. According to PRETAG Communications Director Kingsley Anyimadu, the unions have no fresh demands and want the government to address the outstanding payments. The unions have warned that any further delays could complicate the situation.
One of the major concerns is the delay in concluding negotiations for a new Collective Agreement, which expired in June 2026. The unions are also demanding the payment of outstanding arrears, affecting around 80,000 teachers. The Deprived Area Allowance, intended to provide an incentive for teachers serving in difficult-to-reach areas, has remained unresolved since 2009, according to PRETAG President King Ali Awudu.
The Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD) has clarified its position on the promotion arrears, stating that it has fully processed and paid 6,079 promotion cases submitted by the Ghana Education Service, including applicable arrears effective from January 1, 2026. However, outstanding payments relate to cases for which the GES has not yet submitted the required documentation.
The Education Ministry has expressed concern that the strike could undermine efforts to restore Ghana's academic calendar. Press Secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry, Hasmin Mohammed, emphasized that the government had worked to ensure that learners from kindergarten through university could return to school in September. The Ministry is engaging the FWSC and CAGD to address some of the issues raised by the unions.
NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba has maintained that the unions remain willing to engage with the government, provided the discussions lead to a resolution of their concerns. The unions have previously warned that they would not accept further delays after what they consider prolonged engagements over the outstanding issues.
The talks between the Education Minister and the teacher unions are crucial in resolving the nationwide strike and ensuring that teaching and learning can resume across the country. The government is expected to provide concrete action to address the unions' concerns, rather than just assurances.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government is in talks with teacher unions to address concerns over unpaid promotion arrears, delayed Collective Agreement negotiations, and Deprived Area Allowance.
- The nationwide strike by teacher unions has disrupted teaching and learning across the country since September 25.
- The unions are demanding the payment of outstanding arrears, affecting around 80,000 teachers, and implementation of the 20% Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in hard-to-reach communities.
