The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has rejected media reports attributing comments to its Chief Executive, Dr George Smith-Graham, that workers participating in an illegal strike would have their salaries deducted for every day they remain away from work.
In the press release, the Commission clarified the issue, stating that“our Chief Executive did not make the comments attributed to him in the said media report,” adding that the FWSC does not recognise the purported remarks as an official statement on the teachers’ strike.
According to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the reports have generated public interest at a time when the three pre-tertiary teacher unions are engaged in an industrial action, creating the potential for confusion over the government’s position on the matter.
The Commission further appealed to the public and media to disregard the report and any conclusions drawn from it, stressing that “they do not represent a statement made by the Chief Executive or a position taken by the Commission in relation to the ongoing teachers’ strike.”
Additionally, the Commission stated that the remarks attributed to Dr Smith-Graham should not be treated as an official position on the teachers’ industrial action or as an indication of any salary deduction policy being announced by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. The Commission further appealed to journalists and members of the public to rely on verified information from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and other appropriate authorities when reporting developments concerning the dispute.
Meanwhile, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission reiterated its responsibility to promote fair, transparent and sustainable compensation arrangements across Ghana’s public service while supporting harmonious industrial relations.
Reaffirming its position, the Commission noted that constructive engagement is central to addressing outstanding labour matters and achieving outcomes that are acceptable to the parties involved. The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission also acknowledged the significance of the issues raised by the teacher unions, stressing that continued dialogue and good-faith negotiations would remain important in resolving the outstanding matters.
FWSC Opens Fresh Talks With Teacher Unions Amid Strike
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has commenced formal engagements with the three pre-tertiary teacher unions as part of efforts to resolve outstanding issues surrounding their collective agreement and conditions of service.
The development follows the nationwide strike by the unions, which began on Monday, September 28, 2026, after earlier discussions failed to settle the matters raised by the teachers.
The FWSC held negotiations with the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) on Tuesday, October 6, under the chairmanship of Dr George Smith-Graham.
The meeting brought together GNAT General Secretary Thomas Musah, NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba, PRETAG President King Awudu Ali and other representatives of the three unions to examine the outstanding issues and demands presented by the teachers.
Explaining the next step, Dr Smith-Graham indicated that the engagement would be reconvened after the Commission had undertaken further consultations on the demands submitted by the unions and engaged the relevant stakeholders.
He also commended the leadership of the unions for the peaceful manner in which the discussions were conducted, signalling the FWSC’s preference for continued negotiations as the parties work towards resolving the dispute.
The Commission’s involvement followed an emergency meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, with the teacher unions on September 28 after the commencement of the strike.
Following the engagement, the Education Minister indicated that the FWSC would spearhead the next phase of formal negotiations on behalf of government, placing the Commission at the centre of efforts to address the unresolved matters.
Meanwhile, the teacher unions have continued to press their demands over conditions of service and other outstanding issues, with the industrial action affecting pre-tertiary education across the country.
In addition, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has indicated that further consultations will precede the resumption of negotiations, allowing the Commission to consider the unions’ submissions and engage other stakeholders where necessary. The Commission stressed that the objective of the process is to facilitate a mutually acceptable and sustainable resolution to the outstanding matters through constructive engagement between government and the unions.
Emphasising the importance of dialogue, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission acknowledged the concerns raised by the teachers and maintained that good-faith negotiations would be critical to finding a resolution to the current industrial dispute. The Commission also encouraged all stakeholders to rely on verified updates as discussions continue, while reaffirming its commitment to fair compensation arrangements and harmonious industrial relations within Ghana’s public service.
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