The Ministry of Education is set to meet the leadership of the coalition of teacher unions on Monday, August 31, 2026, in a bid to avert a threatened nationwide strike triggered by delays in placing newly promoted teachers on their appropriate salary scales.
The meeting, scheduled for 11 a.m., comes in direct response to an ultimatum issued by the unions demanding that government resolve the matter by close of work on Monday, failing which industrial action would follow across the country’s pre-tertiary education system.
At the heart of the standoff is a disagreement over the implementation timeline for the automatic promotion system for teachers.
According to the unions, a directive currently in effect contradicts an earlier assurance given by the Ghana Education Service (GES) that the automatic promotion system would be fully implemented by August, leaving newly promoted teachers without the salary adjustments they had been led to expect.
This apparent contradiction between GES’s earlier commitment and the current state of implementation has become the central grievance driving the unions’ threat of a nationwide strike, prompting swift intervention from the sector Minister.
Minister Directs Deputy to Engage Unions Immediately
Speaking in an interview, Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, said the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, personally directed him to reach out to the teacher unions once their concerns and accompanying ultimatum became public.
“Since they made this known and indicated what would happen if no action is taken, the Honourable Minister for Education has directed me to contact the leadership of the teacher unions, who have been sent to come to the ministry on Monday at 11 a.m. for a meeting.”
Dr Clement Apaak
Government Seeks to Preserve Sector Harmony
Dr Apaak said government recognises the critical role teachers play within the education system and is keen to resolve the dispute before it disrupts teaching and learning nationwide.
He explained that the Minister’s objective in convening the meeting is to engage directly with the body responsible for the disputed pronouncement, in order to identify a practical way forward that restores confidence among affected teachers.
“The minister wants to engage them so that we can find a way of getting the institution whose pronouncement has put the teachers on edge to see what can be done so that we can continue to enjoy harmony in the educational sector.”
Dr Clement Apaak
Appeal For Calm Amid Strike Threats
Beyond confirming the meeting, Dr Apaak used the interview to appeal directly to the unions to remain calm and honour the scheduled engagement, cautioning that a strike would carry serious consequences for the country’s education system as a whole.
He noted that any industrial action would affect the entire pre-tertiary education spectrum, spanning kindergarten through to secondary school.
“If they go on strike, and we are talking about pre-tertiary education from kindergarten to secondary school, the consequences will be dire for all of us as a nation,”
Dr Clement Apaak
Ministry Reaffirms Commitment To Cordial Relations
Closing his remarks, Dr Apaak reiterated the Ministry’s broader commitment to maintaining what he described as a cordial, respectful, open, transparent and peaceful working relationship with teacher unions, positioning Monday’s meeting as consistent with that stated approach rather than a one-off response to the immediate crisis.
With the union ultimatum set to expire at the close of work on Monday, the outcome of the scheduled 11 a.m. meeting is expected to determine whether the threatened nationwide strike proceeds or whether government and the teacher unions are able to reach an agreement that keeps the country’s schools running without disruption.
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