Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu to Meet Striking Teacher Unions Over Unpaid Arrears and Conditions

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has scheduled an emergency meeting with the leadership of Ghana’s three primary pre-tertiary teacher unions for Monday, September 28, 2026. This high-level intervention follows the declaration of a nationwide strike on September 25 by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG). The industrial action was triggered by what the unions describe as a persistent failure by the government to fulfill commitments regarding teacher welfare and administrative professionalization.

At the heart of the dispute are several unresolved financial and administrative grievances, most notably the non-payment of promotion arrears and the delayed implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance. The unions are also demanding the immediate conclusion of negotiations for a new Collective Agreement and the automatic placement of teachers who recently passed promotion examinations onto their correct salary scales. NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba has indicated that while the unions remain open to dialogue, they require a genuine resolution to these long-standing issues before considering a suspension of the strike, which has already begun to affect school operations across the country.

The Ministry of Education, through Press Secretary Hasmin Mohammed, has expressed deep concern over the strike's potential to disrupt the academic calendar, which only recently resumed in September. To facilitate a comprehensive resolution, the upcoming meeting will include representatives from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department. The Ministry has emphasized its commitment to restoring normalcy for students and has urged the unions to prioritize the interests of learners while negotiations continue.

Adding to the urgency, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has linked the growing dissatisfaction among teachers to broader systemic failures in the education sector, specifically citing the mass failure in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The caucus warned that demotivated teachers are unable to provide the quality instruction necessary for student success, asserting that the nation risks losing its future if teacher conditions are not prioritized. The outcome of Monday's meeting is expected to be a critical turning point for the academic year and the broader stability of the education sector under the current administration.