The three major teacher unions in the country have declared a nationwide strike effective today, Friday, September 25, 2026, over what they describe as delays by government agencies in addressing outstanding issues affecting their members.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Union of Ghana (PRETAG) announced the industrial action in a joint statement dated September 25, 2026.
The unions cited delays in negotiating a new collective agreement, failure to automatically place newly promoted teachers on their appropriate salary scales and the non-payment of deprived area allowance among the issues that triggered the strike.
According to the unions, the existing collective agreement has expired, while negotiations for a new agreement, which they said should have been concluded by June 2026, had not been undertaken.
They said they had raised the matter with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on several occasions, but the issue remained unresolved.
The unions also complained about the failure of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) to implement an agreement on the automatic placement of newly promoted teachers.
They said two cohorts of teachers who successfully passed aptitude tests in December 2025 and February 2026 were yet to be placed on their respective salary scales, with arrears dating from January 2026.
Deprived area allowance
The teacher unions further demanded action on the deprived area allowance, saying provisions under the 2024 Collective Agreement had not been implemented.
They referred to Section 17(2) of the agreement, which requires the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to review the deprived area report before the teacher unions negotiate the applicable allowance with the FWSC.
The unions said that process had not been completed.
They also cited what they described as a 2024 ruling by the National Labour Commission (NLC), as well as a directive by President John Dramani Mahama concerning a 20 per cent allowance for teachers working in deprived or hard-to-reach areas.
Strike begins today
The unions said the unresolved issues had generated growing disaffection and anger among teachers and accused the relevant authorities of delays and unfulfilled promises.
They said the decision to strike had been taken in response to pressure from their members and the failure of the authorities to address their concerns.
“In the light of the above circumstances and given the delays, unfulfilled promises on the part of the duty bearers and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as well as threats by the rank-and-file of our members, we the Teachers Unions, do stand with our members and hereby declare a nationwide industrial action (Strike), effective today Friday, 25th September 2026, to press home our demands,” the statement said.
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