Teacher Unions Suspend Nationwide Strike After Reaching Agreement With Government
Pre-tertiary teachers across Ghana are expected to return to classrooms on Monday, October 12, 2026, following the suspension of their nationwide industrial action.
The decision follows a formal agreement reached on Friday, October 9, between government representatives and the three primary pre-tertiary teacher unions: the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG).
The consensus was finalized in a joint communique signed on October 9, 2026, following a series of engagements involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ghana Education Service (GES), and leadership from the respective teacher unions.
Key Details of the Agreement
According to the official communique issued by the negotiating parties, the government agreed to precise timelines and implementation steps regarding four key demands:
Promotion Placement and Arrears: The government committed to paying 51,000 teachers by October 16, 2026. The remaining teachers awaiting promotion placement and arrears are scheduled to receive their payments by the end of October 2026.
Complimentary Digital Instruction Support Allowance: Negotiations regarding this allowance have been formally concluded. Payments will be executed in November 2026.
Continuous Professional Development Allowance: Discussions have also been concluded, with payment set for December 2026.
Deprived Area Allowance: The government agreed to outline and establish implementation modalities for the allowance starting in January 2027.
The signatories to the communique agreed to continue negotiations on remaining outstanding issues.
READ: FWSC Warns Striking Teachers of Possible Salary Deductions if Strike Continues
Official Signatories
The agreement was officially signed on behalf of the employer by George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. Representatives for the teacher unions who signed the document include Thomas Musah, General Secretary of GNAT; Jacob Anaba, President of NAGRAT; and King Ali Awudu, President of PRETAG.
Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, and Prof. Charles Adabo Oppong, Director of Directorates and Gender/Negotiations at FWSC, signed the document as official witnesses.
With the signing of the communique and the suspension of the strike action, normal academic activities in public pre-tertiary institutions nationwide are slated to resume fully on Monday.
