By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, Oct. 9, GNA – The Pre-Tertiary Teacher Unions on Friday suspended their industrial action following an agreement with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on outstanding allowances and arrears.
The unions urged their members to return to the classroom on Monday, October 12, following the suspension of the strike.
The decision followed engagements with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and the Council of State earlier on Friday.
Mr Thomas Musah, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), urged members to resume work while engagements on their grievances continued.
He said the decision followed the conclusion of discussions with the Commission on promotion and deprived-area allowances, as well as outstanding arrears.
Mr Jacob Anaba, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), assured teachers that all outstanding arrears owed them would be paid.
He said calls by well-meaning Ghanaians for the unions to call off the strike demonstrated the importance of teachers’ services.
“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.
Dr George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, said the Government would announce the modalities for paying the deprived-area allowance in January 2027.
He said arrears relating to promotion and placement would be paid to 51,000 teachers by October 16, with the remaining payments expected to be completed by the end of October.
Dr Smith-Graham said negotiations on the complementary digital instruction support allowance had been completed, with payment expected in November 2026.
He added that negotiations on the continuous professional development allowance had also been completed, with payment expected in December 2026.
The parties would, however, continue negotiations on other outstanding issues, he said.
The industrial action, which began on Friday, September 25, 2026, was declared by three major pre-tertiary teacher unions: GNAT, NAGRAT and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers.
The unions embarked on the strike over delays in placing promoted staff on their appropriate salary scales and the non-payment of promotion allowances and arrears.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
9 Oct. 2026