The three main associations of teachers, namely the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), have declared a nationwide industrial action effective Friday, September 25, 2026.
The teacher unions declared that the immediate strike action follows unresolved concerns about their conditions of service, promotion and deprived-area allowance.
At a press briefing in Accra on Friday, September 25, the unions directed all pre-tertiary teachers to lay down their tools and leave the classroom until further notice.
King Ali Awudu, President of PRETAG, disclosed that the unions’ conditions of service expired in June, with efforts to negotiate a new agreement since last year yielding no results.
He stated, “You will recall that we have once engaged the media and informed you that our conditions of service have expired since June. All efforts to get a new one negotiated since last year have yielded no fruits”.
The unions also expressed their dissatisfaction with a proposed 10% increase in the digital allowance, which currently stands at GH¢800 per year.
They further noted that agreement to automatically place about 80,000 teachers who sat for aptitude tests in December 2025 and February 2026 on the appropriate salary scale had also not been implemented.
Mr Awudu also stressed that the deprived-area allowance has still not been resolved since 2009.
The union argued that the commitment to introduce a 20% allowance for teachers in deprived areas has yet to be implemented.
“We are asking all teachers that with immediate effect, as soon as this information goes out, they should put all their tools down, leave the classroom, go home and have a very good rest and wait until they hear from leadership again,” he said.
Meanwhile, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, has said the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) are working in collaboration to improve the welfare, motivation and retention of teachers.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, the new measures are particularly for those in rural and deprived communities, adding that Teacher welfare is a national priority.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on July 2, 2026, Haruna Iddrisu said, “The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, is implementing a number of targeted strategies to improve the welfare, motivation and retention of teachers across the country, particularly those posted to rural and underserved areas.”
“Teacher welfare is positioned as a national priority to strengthen their motivation, dignity and retention, and for long-term education outcome gains. As part of government efforts to attract, motivate and retain teachers in deprived and underserved communities, special incentives have been put in place for teachers who are self-posting to such areas,” he stated.
The Education Minister added, “I am happy to note that one of these incentives is a reduction in the number of years required to qualify for study leave. Originally, it was three years if you were in a deprived area. We have reduced it now to two years. So any person who is self-posting to a rural deprived area after two years of service can apply for study leave with pay”.
“We are also engaged in continuous education and capacity building of teachers across the country. In addition, the government is committed to rolling out a 20 per cent salary-related rural posting allowance for teachers serving in rural and deprived areas. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education are working on implementing that. A significant thing that affects the welfare of teachers is their shelter housing.”
Haruna Iddrisu added, “A significant thing that affects the welfare of teachers is their shelter housing. We are currently engaging in some discussion to deploy the Teacher Dabre Initiative of President Mahama, which was in the NDC manifesto, which will provide accommodation for teachers in rural areas to address the housing challenges that affect teacher deployment and retention in those areas”.
“Under this initiative, deliberate measures are being taken to ensure that the construction of new school facilities is accompanied by teacher accommodation. So this time we have directed that if contracts are awarded for school blocks, they must naturally include accommodation facilities for teachers,” he added.
See the statement below:
@ghnow_ They should come and arrest all of us, we are ready – Protestor #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Madina MP Francis-Xavier Sosu reportedly collapsed while addressing students at GIMPA on Thursday, September 24. His condition has not yet been independently confirmed. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – ADAAMAINA
