Explainer: What teachers are demanding and why they are still on strike

Ghana's three pre-tertiary teacher unions have been on strike for a week, with their demands still unanswered. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) initiated the walkout on September 25. On September 22, they gave the government until midday on September 24 to act, but when the deadline passed, they continued with the strike.

The unions are seeking negotiations for a new Collective Agreement, promotion of teachers to their new salary grades, and the payment of arrears. Additionally, they want the 20% Deprived Area Allowance implemented for teachers in underserved communities. Teachers who passed promotion exams in December 2025 and February 2026 have not been placed in their appropriate grades, and the unions claim they are performing the duties of their new positions without the increased salary.

The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, informed the unions on September 28 that about 29,000 promoted teachers' information reached the Controller and Accountant-General's Department, with more cases still under consideration. The Ghana Education Service (GES) must submit the remaining data by October 5. The government assures that processed teachers' grades will be implemented by October, with supplementary payments covering the arrears.

The Deprived Area Allowance has been outstanding for years, according to the unions, who say it has been a persistent issue.

The Collective Agreement, which expired in June 2026, is another demand. The unions argue that talks with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission have not led to a final agreement, while the government remains ready to continue negotiations. Despite assurances, the unions are not satisfied and want to see correct placements and actual payments before returning to work.

Several union leaders from the Upper West, Volta, and Oti regions stated that teachers will only resume work if their concerns are addressed and payments are made. The GES has appealed to the unions to reconsider, with Director-General Professor Ernest Kofi Davis emphasizing the importance of addressing the unions' concerns to avoid changes in lesson schedules, examinations, and the academic calendar.

President John Mahama is scheduled to meet with the union leaders later on Friday, along with representatives from the Education Ministry, GES, and other agencies. The outcome of the meeting, including its implications for the national compensation budget, will be closely monitored. The GES must submit the outstanding data on promoted teachers by October 5, as per the unions' demands.