The Ministry of Education has thanked the three pre-tertiary teacher unions for suspending their nationwide strike, describing the decision as a positive step that followed constructive negotiations with government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
The Ministry acknowledged the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG). It pledged to keep working with them and the FWSC on outstanding issues and urged all parties to consolidate the gains made at the negotiating table.
The Ministry expressed sincere appreciation to GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG for suspending the strike, which had kept many pupils out of class across the country. It said the outcome came after constructive negotiations involving government and the FWSC.
“Ministry acknowledges the unions’ decision as a positive step towards resolving outstanding concerns through dialogue, mutual understanding, and constructive engagement in the best interest of teachers and learners.”
MoE
How the Dispute Unfolded
The three unions declared the strike on September 25, 2026, citing unresolved concerns over teachers’ conditions of service, promotions and the implementation of a 20 per cent deprived-area allowance. Unpaid promotion arrears and delays in negotiations on conditions of service were also among their grievances.
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, met union leaders on September 28, and the FWSC then took charge of the next phase of formal negotiations. Its Chief Executive, Dr George Smith-Graham, chaired a meeting with the union leadership on October 6, after which he said the engagement would reconvene once the Commission had completed further consultations on the unions’ demands.
Commitment to Continued Collaboration
The Ministry said it remains committed to working with the unions, the FWSC and other relevant stakeholders to address outstanding issues. It also promised to promote teachers’ welfare while safeguarding stability and continuity in the delivery of quality education.
The statement also stresses stability and continuity in schools, an assurance aimed at parents and pupils still waiting for lessons to resume and the academic calendar to regain its rhythm.
The wording signals that the suspension does not close the file. The matters that fed the strike, from promotion payments to the allowance and the collective agreement, continue to be handled by the institutions responsible for them.
Government had earlier named October 16 as its target for paying the first tranche of arrears owed to promoted teachers. The Ministry also thanked teachers, parents, learners and all other stakeholders affected by the industrial action for their patience and resilience.
“We urge all parties to sustain the spirit of cooperation and good faith to ensure that the gains made through negotiations are consolidated.”
MoE
Education think tank Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) had warned that prolonged disruption threatens learning and child well-being, particularly among children from low-income households who rely on school for feeding and other support services. It urged a credible, time-bound resolution that restores teaching and learning.
Industrial Harmony and the Road Ahead
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening industrial harmony and creating an enabling environment in which teachers are valued, supported and empowered to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s education transformation agenda.
For classrooms, the immediate effect is the expected return of teachers to work and the resumption of lessons. For government and the unions, the harder test lies ahead: turning the goodwill of the negotiating table into payments on payslips and agreements that are concluded before they expire.
Eduwatch has argued that negotiations on collective agreements should begin well ahead of expiry, guided by clear milestones, so that avoidable delays do not mature into strikes. The suspension gives government, the FWSC and the unions room to apply that approach.
Attention will now turn to the next round of talks, the arrival of promotion payments and progress on the allowance, all of which will show whether the calm holds
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