The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has called on government to ensure that agreements reached with organised labour are implemented within agreed timelines to prevent outstanding issues from developing into industrial disputes.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Morning Show in Accra-Tema on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Mr Koomson said some of the concerns behind the ongoing teachers’ strike related to commitments involving promotion, salary placement and allowances that had not been fully implemented.
He said verbal assurances to workers without the necessary administrative action could deepen frustration and undermine confidence in negotiations between government and organised labour.
According to him, where government encounters difficulties in implementing an agreement, the appropriate response should be to engage union leaders and explain the challenges rather than allow the issue to remain unresolved.
Mr Koomson said collective agreements should not be treated as barriers to further discussions, adding that government and organised labour could return to the negotiating table whenever difficulties emerged during implementation.
He also highlighted the proposed 20 per cent deprived-area allowance for teachers working in deprived and hard-to-reach communities, saying the matter required sustained engagement between government and the affected unions.
The teachers’ unions have listed the implementation of the deprived-area allowance among their key demands. They have also raised concerns over promotion-related arrears, the placement of promoted teachers on the appropriate salary scales and delays in concluding a new collective agreement.
Mr Koomson warned that when union leaders are not given adequate information about the implementation of government commitments, members could begin to believe that their representatives are failing to protect their interests.
He therefore called for regular meetings involving government, organised labour and relevant state institutions to identify problems early and agree on practical solutions.
The nationwide strike by GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG began on September 25, 2026, after outstanding concerns remained unresolved. The action has disrupted teaching and learning in public pre-tertiary schools across the country.
The unions have maintained pressure for concrete action on their demands, while government has appealed for the strike to be suspended as negotiations continue. The Education Ministry has also indicated that discussions involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and other relevant agencies are being pursued.
Mr Koomson said government must treat organised labour as a partner in governance and use dialogue to resolve outstanding commitments before they escalate into major industrial disputes.
He maintained that timely implementation of agreements, transparent communication and continuous engagement would help strengthen trust between government and workers and promote industrial peace.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah
