By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kumasi, Oct. 6, GNA – Teacher Unions in Ashanti Region including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), have served notice that they are not returning to the classroom without verifiable evidence of payment of outstanding promotion-related salaries.
The three unions said any decision by their national leadership to call off the ongoing nationwide industrial action must be backed by evidence that affected teachers had received their outstanding payments.
Mr. Daniel Atakora, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of GNAT, who read a joint statement on behalf of the unions at a press conference in Kumasi, said: “We are waiting for bank alerts proof that the government had fulfilled its commitments to teachers.”
He said assurances without concrete implementation had become unacceptable, stressing that teachers had already made concessions on some months of salary arrears and would not accept further delays.
“Any decision to call off the strike must be backed by evidence of payment to affected teachers. We are waiting for bank alerts,” he said.
The unions said their support for the nationwide industrial action was based on a number of unresolved concerns, including the automatic placement of promoted teachers, the expired collective agreement and the implementation of the deprived-area allowance.
They demanded the immediate placement of teachers who passed the December 2025 and February 2026 promotion examinations on the appropriate salary grades, together with payment of the corresponding arrears effective January 2026.
On the collective agreement, the unions said the existing agreement had expired, while negotiations expected to have been concluded by June 2026 remained unresolved.
They therefore called for a clear, credible and time-bound roadmap for concluding and implementing the new collective agreement.
The unions also demanded the implementation of the deprived-area allowance for teachers serving in rural and underserved communities, saying the allowance was necessary to attract and retain teachers in such areas.
Beyond the financial concerns, the unions raised concerns about excessive workloads and the general welfare and professional dignity of teachers.
They said teachers were required to undertake classroom preparation, assessment, reporting, meetings, training, administrative duties and engagements with parents and learners, often under difficult conditions.
The unions called for a review of workloads, duplication in reporting and unnecessary administrative demands, as well as better planning of meetings and professional development programmes.
They also demanded accessible counselling and referral services for teachers and training for school leaders to identify and address distress among teachers.
Mr. Atakora said the unions acknowledged recent engagements with government but maintained that “teachers require implementation, not further assurances.”
He called for a transparent monitoring mechanism, verifiable implementation of records, and clear deadlines for resolving outstanding cases.
The unions further urged the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to provide a coordinated account of teacher placements and payments that affected teachers could cross-check against their records.
They appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene decisively to resolve the outstanding issues and ensure that commitments made to teachers were honoured.
The unions appealed to the public to treat teachers’ concerns with respect, saying concerns about individual misconduct should be addressed through the appropriate channels rather than used to denigrate the entire teaching profession.
They maintained that the strike would continue until the outstanding issues were satisfactorily addressed and their national leadership directed otherwise.
“Promises have been made and the lines have been crossed. The time for concrete action is now,” Mr. Atakora insisted.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim
Email:[email protected]
06 Oct. 2026