Teacher unions begin nationwide strike as Education Ministry schedules Monday talks

Ghana’s three major teacher unions have declared a nationwide industrial action over unpaid promotion arrears, delays in negotiations and other outstanding conditions, while the Ministry of Education has scheduled a meeting with the unions for Monday, September 28, 2026, in an effort to resolve the dispute.

The unions involved are the Ghana National Association of Teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana. Their decision follows unsuccessful attempts to resolve concerns surrounding promotion-related payments and the implementation of agreed employment conditions.

The unions announced the strike after giving the government a deadline to address their concerns. In a joint statement dated September 25, they said the industrial action was linked to prolonged delays and what they described as unfulfilled commitments affecting teachers.

Among the issues raised is the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement. The unions say the existing agreement has expired and that discussions on a replacement agreement, which they expected to be completed earlier in 2026, remain unresolved. Collective agreements are important because they establish employment conditions and other arrangements affecting workers and their employers.

The teacher unions are also demanding the automatic placement of teachers who successfully passed promotion examinations onto the appropriate salary scales. They have called for the payment of arrears dating from January 2026 for teachers affected by the delayed placement process.

Another concern is the non-implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance. The allowance is relevant to teachers working in areas classified under the applicable policy as deprived or underserved. The unions have linked the matter to wider questions about teacher welfare, recruitment and retention in areas where attracting qualified teachers can be difficult.

The Ministry of Education has responded by arranging discussions with the unions on Monday. The ministry’s spokesperson, Hasmin Mohammed, said the Education Minister would engage the unions and other relevant institutions in an attempt to resolve the issues and persuade the unions to call off the strike.

The ministry has also indicated that it cannot resolve every aspect of the dispute alone because some of the issues require the participation of institutions such as the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.

The timing of the strike has raised concerns about the academic calendar because schools have only recently returned to regular activity after previous disruptions. The Education Ministry has said it is concerned that a prolonged strike could interfere with efforts to maintain a harmonised academic calendar for students across the country.

For parents and students, the immediate question is how long the industrial action will last and whether Monday’s engagement will produce a settlement. The answer will depend on the discussions between the unions, the Education Ministry and the other institutions involved in the outstanding issues.

For teachers, the dispute centres on payments, career progression and employment conditions. The unions have maintained that resolving the arrears and related concerns is necessary to restore confidence in the process for implementing promotions and negotiating working conditions.

The Monday meeting therefore represents an important point in the dispute. If the parties reach an understanding, the unions could review their industrial action. If discussions do not resolve the outstanding matters, the strike could continue and create further pressure on the education system.

Parents and guardians should follow official announcements from the Ministry of Education and the teacher unions for information about school operations. Individual schools may also communicate directly with parents about attendance and learning arrangements while negotiations continue.

Source: Graphic Online and the Ministry of Education.