The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) have declared a nationwide strike. This industrial action follows the government's failure to address concerns over unpaid promotion allowances and arrears owed to teachers. The unions had given the government until midday on September 24, 2026, to resolve the issues. The decision to strike was made due to prolonged delays, unfulfilled commitments, and growing frustration over conditions affecting teachers.
The teacher unions cited three major concerns that led to the strike. These include the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement, which has expired, and the failure to automatically place newly promoted teachers on the appropriate salary scales. Additionally, the unions are demanding the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance. The unions said that negotiations for a new agreement, which should have been completed by June 2026, remain outstanding. The matter has been raised with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) several times but remains unresolved.
The Ministry of Education has scheduled a meeting with the three teacher unions for Monday in an attempt to resolve the dispute. The Press Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Hasmin Mohammed, stated that the Minister would engage with the stakeholders to resolve the dispute and prevent the strike from further disrupting the academic calendar. The meeting aims to provide a platform for the relevant institutions and the unions to engage directly and address the unions' concerns.
Mr. Mohammed emphasized that the dispute cannot be resolved by the Education Ministry alone, as it requires the involvement of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant-General's Department. The Ministry is deeply worried about the strike due to its potential impact on the academic calendar. Significant efforts have been made to restore the calendar to normalcy after previous disruptions.
The strike comes at a time when pupils and students from kindergarten through to the university have only recently returned to school in September. Continued industrial action could undermine efforts to return the academic calendar to a harmonized schedule. Mr. Mohammed expressed concern that the strike could have far-reaching consequences for the education sector.
The teacher unions are demanding the automatic placement of teachers who successfully passed the promotion examinations in December 2025 and February 2026 onto their respective salary scales, including payment of arrears effective January 2026. The unions stated that they stand with their members and have declared a nationwide industrial action due to the government's failure to address their concerns.
The Ministry of Education's meeting with the teacher unions on Monday will seek to address the unions' demands and find a resolution to the strike. The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the strike will continue or be called off. The education sector is hopeful that a resolution will be reached to prevent further disruptions to the academic calendar.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government faces pressure to resolve a dispute with teacher unions over unpaid promotion arrears and other demands.
- The nationwide strike by teacher unions could have far-reaching consequences for Ghana's education sector.
- A meeting between the Ministry of Education and teacher unions is scheduled for Monday to seek a resolution to the strike.
