Public Basic and Senior High Schools across the country remain closed as the nationwide strike by Pre-Tertiary teachers enters its second week.
The strike which was declared on Friday, September 25, 2026 by the three major teacher unions namely, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG).
There are four main concerns of the striking teachers which according to them did not start yesterday, and all their attempts to call on gov’t to respond to those concerns yielded no fruits.
- Promotion without Pay: About 51,000 teachers who passed aptitude tests in December 2025 and February 2026 have been promoted on paper but, not placed on their correct salary scales. Their arrears remain unpaid.
2. Working without Collective Agreement: The old Collective Agreement has expired.
Negotiations for a new one which should have ended by June 2026 are still pending at the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
3. 20% Deprived Area Allowance: Allowance for teachers in hard-to-reach and rural communities has not been implemented.
4. Professional Allowance: PRETAG says a 20% professional allowance promised since 2009 is still outstanding.
GNAT General Secretary Thomas Tanko Musah on various radio and TV stations said unions were assured that, promoted teachers would be paid without submitting extra documents, but that promise has not been fulfilled.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has ordered The Ghana Education Service (GES) to submit all validated promotion data to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department by close of day on Monday, October 5. Acting GES DG Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis responded by saying his team is working to meet the deadline.
The Minister has given two timelines: First supplementary payment of arrears by October 16 and full placement on correct salary grade by October 30
So the question that comes up is, what was the Minister and the DG of the GES doing all these times when the Teacher Unions threatened to go on strike?
Despite government assurances, regional branches in Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Bono, Upper East and Western regions have all backed the continuation of the strike.
PRETAG President King Ali Awudu insists promotion arrears alone cannot end the strike – government must show concrete action on the Collective Agreement and allowances.
Classrooms remain empty while parents and students bear the brunt of the actions of the Teachers and the govt.
Written; Godfred Sey