Three teacher unions in Ghana, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Graduate Teachers' Association (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), have given the government an ultimatum to resolve outstanding promotion arrears and other issues affecting the teaching profession. The unions are demanding that the government address concerns over the 2025 promotion placement and payment of arrears, which have not been fully effected.
According to the unions, the delay in resolving these issues has generated tension and anger among teachers across the country. The situation is a clear violation of an agreement reached with the government to automatically place all affected teachers by the end of September 2026. The unions are also calling for the renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and payment of the Deprived Area Allowance, among other concerns.
The teacher unions have warned that if the outstanding matters are not addressed by midday on September 24, 2026, they will no longer be able to restrain teachers from taking action. The unions urged teachers to remain calm and follow official directives from their leadership, while also calling on teachers to participate in any actions announced by the unions.
The unions' ultimatum comes after a series of concerns were raised over the government's handling of teacher-related issues. The situation has sparked fears of a potential strike by teachers, which could disrupt the academic calendar.
In a statement, the unions emphasized that they are not making threats, but rather a promise to ensure that the concerns of teachers are addressed. The government has been urged to take full responsibility for the consequences of inaction.
The concerns raised by the teacher unions are not limited to promotion arrears, but also include other issues affecting the teaching profession. The unions are seeking a comprehensive resolution to these issues to prevent further tensions and disruptions.
The government has been given a short deadline to respond to the unions' demands, and it remains to be seen how they will react to the ultimatum. The situation is being closely monitored by stakeholders in the education sector, who are eager to see a resolution to the impasse.
Key points
- The teacher unions have set a deadline of September 24 for the government to resolve promotion arrears and other concerns.
- The concerns raised by the unions include the 2025 promotion placement, payment of arrears, renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and payment of the Deprived Area Allowance.
- A potential strike by teachers could disrupt the academic calendar if the concerns are not addressed.
