Government races to end teachers’ strike as Education Minister holds crunch talks with unions

Ghana's Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu is holding urgent talks with leaders of the country's main pre-tertiary teacher unions to attempt to end a nationwide strike that has interrupted teaching and learning across the nation. Representatives from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) are meeting at the Ministry of Education.

The unions initiated an indefinite strike on September 25 after their demands for a new Collective Agreement, payment of unpaid arrears, and the implementation of a Deprived Area Allowance were not addressed by the government by a September 24 deadline. The unions insist on concrete actions rather than continued assurances. PRETAG's Kingsley Anyimadu stated that the union's focus is on resolving outstanding payments, as there are no new demands.

The main issues include delayed negotiations for a new Collective Agreement, the automatic placement of teachers who passed promotion tests in 2025 and 2026 on their correct salary scales, and the resolution of the 20% Deprived Area Allowance, which has been unresolved since 2009. The strikes have affected about 80,000 teachers.

The Controller and Accountant-General's Department has stated that it has processed and paid 6,079 promotion cases, but the outstanding payments are related to cases for which necessary documentation has not yet been submitted. The Education Ministry is concerned that the strike may disrupt Ghana's academic calendar and efforts to restore it.