The three major teacher unions have declared an indefinite nationwide strike, effective Friday, September 25, 2026, following what they describe as prolonged delays, unfulfilled commitments and the failure of government agencies to resolve outstanding concerns affecting teachers.
The industrial action was announced jointly by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers’ Unions (PRETAG).
In a joint statement dated September 25, the unions said growing frustration among teachers had reached a critical point following what they described as a lukewarm attitude by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) and government towards their concerns.
The unions identified three major issues that have triggered the strike: the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement, the failure to automatically place newly promoted teachers on their appropriate salary scales, and the non-implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance.
According to the unions, the existing Collective Agreement has expired, while negotiations for a new agreement have yet to begin in earnest despite an understanding that the process should have been completed by June 2026.
They said they had repeatedly raised the matter with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission but, as of September 25, the issue remained unresolved.
The teacher unions described the delay as a major concern, arguing that the failure to negotiate a new Collective Agreement has created uncertainty over the conditions of service governing teachers.
Another major grievance concerns the placement of teachers who successfully completed aptitude tests conducted in December 2025 and February 2026.
The unions said an agreement had been reached between the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department on one side and the teacher unions on the other for the successful candidates to be automatically placed on their respective salary scales.
They said the affected teachers were also expected to receive arrears dating back to January 2026.
However, according to GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG, the agreement has not been implemented, leaving the affected teachers frustrated and angry.
The unions said the situation has generated widespread dissatisfaction among their members and contributed significantly to the decision to embark on industrial action.
The third major issue is the failure to implement the Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in hard-to-reach communities.
The unions referred to Section 17(2) of the 2024 Collective Agreement, which provides for a review of the Deprived Area Report, after which the unions were expected to negotiate the applicable figures with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
They said the required process has not been completed, despite the provision in the Collective Agreement.
The unions also cited a 2024 ruling by the National Labour Commission (NLC) and a directive attributed to President John Dramani Mahama concerning the payment of a 20 per cent allowance to teachers working in deprived or hard-to-reach areas.
According to the unions, the continued failure to implement the allowance amounts to disregard for the agreed conditions of service and has further aggravated tensions within the teaching profession.
GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG said the unresolved issues have created widespread disaffection, anger and disillusionment among teachers.
They described the situation as an act of provocation that has intensified demands from their members for decisive action.
The unions said they had taken note of the concerns and frustrations expressed by teachers across the country and could no longer ignore the growing pressure for industrial action.
They therefore announced that teachers would withdraw their services nationwide from Friday, September 25, 2026, until the outstanding matters are addressed.
The unions maintained that the strike was the result of accumulated grievances rather than a sudden decision, pointing to what they described as delays and unfulfilled promises by the relevant government institutions.
The declaration puts teaching and learning in public schools across Ghana under immediate pressure, with thousands of teachers expected to participate in the industrial action.
GNAT General Secretary Thomas T. Musah, NAGRAT President Jacob Anaaba and PRETAG President King Ali Awudu signed the joint declaration on behalf of the three teacher unions.
The unions are demanding urgent action from the government, particularly the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, to resolve the outstanding issues and address the concerns that led to the strike.
Until those issues are resolved, the teacher unions say their nationwide industrial action will remain in force.
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