Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Vows Teacher Arrears Payment by October 30 Amidst Ongoing Nationwide Strike

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has announced that the government is committed to settling outstanding arrears for over 51,000 promoted teachers by October 30, 2026. This pledge comes as the Ghana Education Service (GES) works under a strict deadline of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5, to submit the necessary promotion data to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD). The Minister described it as "inexcusable" if the government fails to honor these payments, emphasizing that the Ministry of Finance will be directed to pursue supplementary payments once the data reconciliation is complete. This move is a critical attempt to resolve the nationwide strike launched on September 25 by pre-tertiary teacher unions, including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT).

The Director-General of the GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, has highlighted that the service is prioritizing the submission of promotion details to address delays in salary grade placements—one of the primary grievances fueling the industrial action. Professor Davis expressed a strong preference for electronic processing to modernize record handling and reduce the administrative burden of the current paper-based system. However, he clarified that the final decision on whether to use electronic methods for payroll processing lies with the CAGD. Education Minister Iddrisu corroborated this need for modernization, criticizing the inefficiency of paper forms and calling for a robust IT infrastructure to streamline teacher promotions and salary adjustments.

While the government has tabled new proposals—including updated salaries for promoted staff, a 20% allowance for teachers in deprived areas, and negotiations on expired service conditions—the strike remains in effect. NAGRAT has issued warnings to teachers who might attempt to undermine the strike, urging them to stay out of classrooms until their demands are fully met. Union leaders, including Madam Edith Adjua Sambo, have noted that frustration has peaked following years of stalled negotiations dating back to 2009. Despite these tensions, Professor Davis has urged teachers to return to work to protect the academic calendar while discussions continue.

The impasse reached a temporary standstill following a high-level meeting on October 6, which ended without a formal resolution to call off the strike. Union leaders are currently consulting with their members to review the government’s latest offers and are expected to provide a formal response on Monday. The outcome of these deliberations, combined with the successful processing of the October 5 promotion data, will determine whether normal academic activities can resume in public schools across the country.