Public basic schools across Ghana are expected to resume normal academic activities on Monday, October 12, 2026, following the suspension of a nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions.
The strike, which began on September 25, was called by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers over outstanding allowances, promotion-related arrears and delays in placing promoted teachers on their appropriate salary scales.
The industrial action was suspended on Friday following negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and engagements with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and the Council of State.
Following the suspension, the union leadership urged members to return to the classroom on Monday while discussions on unresolved concerns continued.
The General Secretary of GNAT, Mr Thomas Musah, called on teachers to resume work, stating that discussions with the FWSC on promotion and deprived-area allowances, as well as outstanding arrears, had been concluded.
The President of NAGRAT, Mr Jacob Anaba, also assured teachers that outstanding arrears owed them would be paid.
He noted that appeals from well-meaning Ghanaians for the unions to suspend the strike highlighted the importance of teachers’ services to national development.
“We hope not to go to this length of industrial action again. We urge everyone, including the media and the public, to join the advocacy for improved conditions of service for teachers,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, Dr George Smith-Graham, said the government would announce the modalities for implementing the deprived-area allowance in January 2027.
He disclosed that promotion and placement arrears were expected to be paid to 51,000 teachers by October 16, 2026, with payments to the remaining beneficiaries scheduled for completion by the end of October.
Dr Smith-Graham further stated that negotiations on the complementary digital instruction support allowance had been concluded, with payment expected in November 2026.
Negotiations on the continuous professional development allowance had also been completed, with disbursement scheduled for December 2026.
However, he indicated that discussions on other outstanding issues would continue.
The unions embarked on the strike over delays in placing promoted teachers on their appropriate salary scales and the non-payment of promotion allowances and related arrears.
The suspension of the industrial action is expected to restore normal teaching and learning in public basic schools while negotiations continue on the remaining concerns affecting teachers’ conditions of service.
