Teacher unions suspend nationwide strike for October 12 return

Ghana’s three main pre-tertiary teacher unions—the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG)—have suspended their two-week nationwide strike. The decision follows successful negotiations with the Council of State and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) regarding outstanding service conditions. Teachers have been directed to return to their classrooms on Monday, October 12, 2026, ending a period of industrial action that began on September 25 over promotion arrears and delayed allowances. The Ministry of Education has expressed appreciation for the move, emphasizing its commitment to educator welfare and the maintenance of quality instruction.

A central component of the resolution is the processing of financial arrears for over 51,000 teachers. Thomas Musah, General Secretary of GNAT, announced that teachers whose promotions were previously delayed will receive their adjusted salaries by October 16, 2026. The Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Agyei, confirmed that his department has already processed records for 52,000 affected staff members. Any records not verified by the mid-October deadline are expected to be addressed in a supplementary payroll or the subsequent November cycle. Furthermore, the government has committed to disbursing a digital support allowance in November and a professional development allowance in December 2026.

Despite the suspension of the strike, union leaders maintain that negotiations on broader issues are still active. These ongoing talks include the full implementation of a 20% allowance for teachers in deprived areas and the finalization of a new collective agreement. While the strike has ended to minimize disruption to students, GNAT has indicated that it will continue to engage with the government to ensure all remaining concerns are satisfactorily addressed. Payments under the new collective agreement are currently scheduled to commence in January 2027. The Council of State, which mediated the final discussions, described the engagement as fruitful and critical for restoring industrial harmony within the education sector.