Ghana’s three pre-tertiary teacher unions have suspended their two-week nationwide strike following high-level engagements with the Council of State, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment.

The decision paves the way for teachers to return to classrooms on Monday, October 12, 2026, bringing relief to students, parents and school authorities affected by the industrial action.

The suspension followed a series of meetings on Friday, October 9, as government intensified efforts to resolve the concerns that prompted the unions to withdraw their services.

The unions involved are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG).

The strike suspension came after discussions involving the three unions and key government institutions, including the Council of State and the FWSC. The engagements focused on outstanding issues affecting teachers’ welfare, remuneration and conditions of service.

The government’s intervention was aimed at ending the industrial action and restoring teaching and learning in public basic and second-cycle schools across the country.

Following the meetings, the unions directed their members to resume classroom duties on Monday, October 12, allowing academic activities to continue while discussions on their outstanding demands progress.

Promotion arrears, deprived-area allowance and conditions of service

The industrial action was driven by three major concerns: outstanding promotion-related arrears, the implementation of a 20 per cent deprived-area allowance and negotiations on teachers’ collective agreement.

The unions have been pressing for the appropriate placement of teachers who have qualified for promotion, alongside the payment of arrears associated with their new grades. Delays in processing promotions and resolving related salary matters have been among the key sources of disagreement with the government.

Another major concern is the proposed 20 per cent deprived-area allowance, which is intended to address the challenges faced by teachers serving in disadvantaged communities. The unions have called for progress on its implementation, including clarity on the areas and categories of teachers that will qualify.

The third issue concerns negotiations on teachers’ collective agreement and conditions of service. Resolving this matter is important to establishing a framework for employment terms and addressing outstanding welfare concerns.

Government intensifies efforts to resolve the dispute

Before the strike was suspended, the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, held discussions with the unions as part of efforts to reach a breakthrough.

The minister indicated that the negotiations had addressed the principal concerns behind the industrial action. He also disclosed that work was progressing on the processing and confirmation of teachers’ promotion records, with approximately 64,000 cases reported as having been entered and confirmed by the Controller and Accountant-General as of Thursday.

The discussions formed part of broader efforts by government agencies to address the promotion issues and other outstanding matters that had kept teachers away from the classroom.

The subsequent meetings with the Council of State and the FWSC helped advance the negotiations, culminating in the unions’ decision to suspend the strike.

Education Ministry welcomes suspension of strike

The Ministry of Education has welcomed the decision by GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG to suspend the nationwide industrial action.

The ministry described the move as a positive step towards resolving the outstanding concerns through dialogue, mutual understanding and constructive engagement between the unions and government.

It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the unions, the FWSC and other relevant stakeholders to address teachers’ welfare concerns while ensuring stability and continuity in the delivery of quality education.

The return of teachers to school is expected to help restore normal academic activities following the disruption caused by the strike.

Negotiations remain important to a lasting resolution

Although the suspension offers immediate relief to learners and parents, the outstanding issues remain central to the relationship between the teacher unions and government.

The effectiveness of the negotiations will depend on the extent to which the commitments made during the engagements translate into concrete action on promotion arrears, deprived-area allowances and the collective agreement.

For teachers, the key expectation is that the concerns that triggered the strike will receive timely attention. For students and parents, the priority is a stable academic calendar that allows teaching and learning to proceed without further disruption.

With teachers expected back in the classroom on October 12, attention will now turn to the implementation of agreed measures and the continuation of discussions aimed at resolving the outstanding issues.

The suspension marks an important step towards restoring normality in Ghana’s pre-tertiary education sector, but sustained engagement and fulfilment of commitments will be essential to preventing a recurrence of the dispute.