The Ghana government has announced a number of measures to address concerns raised by striking teacher unions following a meeting between Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and representatives of the unions.
The discussions form part of government efforts to resolve the issues behind the ongoing nationwide teachers’ strike, which involves major pre-tertiary teacher unions.
Fair Wages Commission to Meet Teacher Unions
As part of the government’s proposed measures, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) is expected to meet the teacher unions on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The meeting is expected to focus on the unions’ Collective Agreement and conditions of service, which remain among the key issues behind the industrial action.
20% Deprived-Area Allowance Under Review
The government has also established a committee chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment to validate data relating to the proposed 20% deprived-area allowance for teachers.
According to the Education Ministry, the government is targeting implementation of the allowance from January 2027.
The deprived-area allowance has been one of the major concerns raised by the teacher unions, particularly for teachers working in remote and hard-to-reach communities.
Government Moves to Pay Promoted Teachers
Another measure involves the payment of salaries and outstanding arrears owed to promoted teachers.
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has been directed to submit the relevant data on promoted teachers to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) by the end of the week.
The move is expected to facilitate the placement of eligible teachers on their appropriate salary grades and support the payment of outstanding arrears.
The issue of delayed promotion placement and related arrears has been cited by teacher unions as one of the reasons for the ongoing strike.
Teacher Unions Maintain Strike
Despite the measures announced following the meeting with the Education Minister, the striking teacher unions have indicated that they will not suspend the industrial action at this stage.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) are among the unions involved in the nationwide strike.
The unions have raised concerns over conditions of service, the Collective Agreement, promotion-related payments and the implementation of the deprived-area allowance.
The government is expected to continue engagements with the teacher unions and relevant state institutions as efforts continue to resolve the dispute and restore normal teaching and learning across Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com