The government and Ghana’s three major pre-tertiary teacher unions are meeting today, Monday, September 28, in an effort to resolve the issues that have triggered a nationwide strike.
The meeting involves the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the BVAssociation of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG).
The unions declared the strike on September 25 after raising concerns over unpaid promotion arrears, delays in negotiating a new collective agreement and the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in underserved communities.
The Education Ministry has expressed concern about the possible effect of the industrial action on the academic calendar, particularly because schools resumed in September.
The meeting is expected to bring together representatives of the teacher unions, the Education Ministry, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
A major issue is the payment of promotion-related arrears. The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department says it has processed all 6,079 promotion cases submitted by the Ghana Education Service as of September 22, including applicable arrears in the September 2026 salaries.
However, the Department says the 6,079 cases represent only part of an expected 58,620 cases, with outstanding cases requiring the Ghana Education Service to submit and validate the necessary documentation.
The teacher unions are also demanding the automatic placement of teachers who passed promotion examinations in December 2025 and February 2026 on the appropriate salary scales, with arrears calculated from January 2026.
The outcome of today’s discussions is expected to determine the next steps in the dispute and whether the strike can be brought to an end.
BY: MASAHDU FARIDATU TUNTEIYA
