The Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) has accused the government of taking teachers for granted following another delay in the payment of outstanding promotion arrears, warning that it could resume its strike if the latest deadline is missed.
The association’s Communications Director, Kingsley Anyimadu, disclosed in an interview that the government had moved the payment deadline from the end of October 2026 to November 16, leaving affected teachers waiting despite assurances that the arrears would be settled.
He explained that PRETAG suspended its industrial action after appeals from the Council of State and other stakeholders, but warned that another missed commitment could force the union to reconsider its position.
“In fact, we are shocked. And at the same time, it came to mind that the government of Ghana doesn’t respect teachers, and that they take us for granted. They have always used us as a sacrificial lamb. And that is where the challenge lies,”
PRETAG’s Communications Director, Kingsley Anyimadu
Mr Anyimadu expressed disappointment over the revised deadline, stressing that the association had agreed to suspend its strike on the understanding that the outstanding promotion arrears would be paid by the end of October.
The extension to November 16 has renewed concerns among affected teachers, who are still awaiting payments linked to their promotions. Mr Anyimadu indicated that the repeated delays had damaged the association’s confidence in assurances from the government.
He maintained that PRETAG had initially resolved to keep its members out of the classroom until every affected teacher received the money owed. The association reconsidered after the Council of State and other stakeholders appealed for more time to allow the government to address the matter.
Conflicting Explanations Over Promotion Arrears
Mr Anyimadu disclosed that PRETAG had received conflicting explanations about why the payments remained outstanding. According to him, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department reportedly indicated that the Ghana Education Service (GES) had not submitted the data needed to process the arrears.
He explained that the association was informed during a meeting with the Education Ministry that GES would submit the outstanding information on October 28. The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department was then expected to begin processing the payments.
The latest assurance is that the remaining teachers will receive their promotion arrears on or before November 16, 2026. However, Mr Anyimadu’s account suggests that the payment process depends on the required data being submitted and the subsequent processing being completed.
Association Warns of Possible Strike Resumption
Mr Anyimadu warned that PRETAG could call its members back out of the classrooms if the government fails to meet the November 16 deadline. He indicated that the association would not rule out renewed industrial action if the arrears remained unpaid after the latest commitment.
“We gave the government more time following appeals from the Council of State and other stakeholders, but our patience is running out. If the outstanding promotion arrears are not paid by November 16, we may have no option but to resume our industrial action.”
PRETAG’s Communications Director, Kingsley Anyimadu
The warning follows an earlier decision by PRETAG to suspend its strike after considering appeals to give the government additional time. The association had initially insisted that teachers should not return to work until all outstanding promotion payments had been made.
The decision to suspend the action was therefore conditional on progress towards resolving the payment issue. With the deadline now extended, the association is again pressing for the government to honour its commitment and settle the outstanding amounts.
PRETAG Calls for Accountability at GES
The Communications Director also called for accountability from the leadership of the Ghana Education Service, arguing that the repeated delays in settling the arrears had become unacceptable.
For affected teachers, the delay means the arrears remain unresolved despite earlier assurances and the suspension of the association’s industrial action. PRETAG is seeking a clear outcome after the government’s revised commitment, while the stated process requires the relevant data to be submitted and the payments to be processed.
The association’s position remains that the outstanding promotion arrears must be paid, and Mr Anyimadu has warned that teachers could return to industrial action if the November 16 deadline is missed. The next steps will depend on whether the government fulfils its latest assurance and the affected staff receive the payments owed to them. PRETAG expects payments to be completed by then.
READ MORE: TUTAG Set to Suspend Strike After Meeting with GTEC
