TEACHER UNIONS DECLARE NATIONWIDE STRIKE

The three teacher unions in Ghana have declared a nationwide industrial action, effective Friday, September 25, 2026, over what they describe as prolonged delays in addressing critical concerns affecting teachers. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (PRETAG) announced the strike in a joint statement dated September 25. According to the unions, the decision follows growing frustration among teachers over the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department’s (CAGD) handling of issues relating to their conditions of service. The statement signed by GNAT General Secretary Thomas T. Musah, NAGRAT President Jacob Aanaba and PRETAG President King Ali Awudu highlighted three major concerns behind the industrial action. They said negotiations for a new Collective Agreement have stalled despite the expiration of the existing agreement and an earlier expectation that the process would have been completed by June 2026. They are also demanding the automatic placement of newly promoted teachers who successfully completed aptitude tests in December 2025 and February 2026. The unions said the failure to implement the agreement between the Ministry of Education/Ghana Education Service and CAGD has left the affected teachers without placement on their respective salary scales with arrears dating from January 2026. “Another major concern is the non-implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance. “The 2024 Collective Agreement requires the Ministry of Education and GES to review the Deprived Area Report and subsequently negotiate the allowance with the FWSC,” the statament read in parts. They accused the FWSC of failing to act on the provision and said teachers working in deprived or hard-to-reach areas are yet to receive the 20 percent allowance of their basic salaries. The unions described the situation as having created widespread dissatisfaction, anger and disillusionment among teachers. They said the continued delays and what they consider unfulfilled commitments have left them with no option but to embark on the industrial action to press home their demands.