Teacher unions in Ghana, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), have given the government an ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues regarding promotion placement, salaries, and arrears of teachers by midday on September 24, 2026. The unions expressed disappointment that the 2025 promotion placement and payment of related arrears had not been fully implemented.
According to the unions, the situation is disturbing and has increased tension and anger among teachers across the country. This development is contrary to an agreement reached with the government to automatically place all affected teachers by the end of September 2026. The unions cited the renewal of the Collective Agreement and the payment of the Deprived Area Allowance as some of the outstanding issues that needed to be addressed.
The teacher unions warned that if the issues were not resolved by the specified deadline, they would no longer be able to restrain teachers from taking further action. The unions stated that the notice was "not a threat but a promise" and that duty bearers should take full responsibility for any consequences.
The unions, however, urged teachers to remain calm and follow official directives from their leadership. They called on their members to participate in any actions announced by the leadership of the respective unions. The development has significant implications for the education sector in Ghana, which has been experiencing various challenges in recent years.
The Ghanaian government has been working to address some of the concerns of the teacher unions, but it is unclear whether the outstanding issues will be resolved by the deadline. The teacher unions' ultimatum has raised concerns among stakeholders, who are eagerly waiting to see how the situation unfolds.
The Collective Agreement and the payment of the Deprived Area Allowance are critical issues that have been on the table for some time. The teacher unions have been pushing for the implementation of these agreements, which they believe will improve the welfare of teachers and enhance the quality of education in Ghana.
The situation is being closely monitored by stakeholders, who are hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon. The teacher unions' decision to issue an ultimatum underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for the government to take concrete steps to address the concerns of teachers.
Key points
- The teacher unions have given the government until September 24, 2026, to resolve outstanding issues regarding promotion placement, salaries, and arrears of teachers.
- The unions cited the renewal of the Collective Agreement and the payment of the Deprived Area Allowance as some of the outstanding issues that needed to be addressed.
- The teacher unions warned that if the issues were not resolved by the specified deadline, they would no longer be able to restrain teachers from taking further action.
