The Central Regional leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (PRETAG) has thrown its support behind the continuation of the nationwide industrial action by the three teacher unions.
The unions say the strike will remain in force until meaningful progress is made in resolving outstanding concerns affecting teachers and the teaching profession.
At a press conference in Cape Coast on Friday, October 2, 2026, the Central Regional leadership said a meeting between the national leadership of the unions and the Ministry of Education on September 28 ended without an agreement.
According to the unions, the Ministry was unable to provide firm commitments and clear timelines for addressing their concerns.
The teacher unions initially declared the nationwide industrial action on Friday, September 25, 2026, following prolonged concerns over several issues.
One of the key concerns is the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement, which the unions said was expected to have been completed by June 2026.
They also cited the failure to implement the automatic placement of two cohorts of teachers who sat for aptitude tests in December 2025 and February 2026.
Another outstanding issue is the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance.
The unions said the Ministry of Education has yet to complete the review of the Deprived Area Report or negotiate the applicable figures with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, as provided for under the 2024 Collective Agreement.
The Central Regional leadership has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the matter and facilitate meaningful engagement between the teacher unions and relevant government institutions.
They believe presidential intervention could help resolve the outstanding issues in the interest of teachers, learners and the wider education sector.
The unions have also appealed to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) to reconsider its requirement for individual teachers to submit hard copies of their promotion letters and input forms before their promotions can be effected on the payroll.
While acknowledging the need for payroll validation and accountability, the unions argued that the process should not place an unnecessary administrative burden on individual teachers.
They proposed that the Ghana Education Service (GES) submit a master list of duly promoted teachers to CAGD for payroll processing.
According to the unions, such an arrangement would enable eligible teachers to be placed on the appropriate salary scales and receive their corresponding financial benefits without unnecessary delays.
They also called on CAGD to engage the teacher unions on the issue and explore an arrangement that maintains verification controls while streamlining the process.
Members urged to remain united
The Central Regional leadership said that, in the absence of an agreement and concrete timelines on the outstanding matters, it fully supports the national leadership’s decision to maintain the industrial action.
Members of GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG in the Central Region have consequently been urged to remain calm, united and disciplined and to comply with directives from their national leadership until an official communication is issued on the suspension or termination of the strike.
The unions also appealed to the government, Ministry of Education, GES, CAGD and other stakeholders to intensify negotiations.
They stressed that their objective was not to unnecessarily disrupt education but to secure what they described as meaningful solutions to outstanding issues affecting teachers and the education sector.
The unions further appealed to parents, guardians, students and the general public for their understanding as engagements continue.
They said they remain committed to dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the issues to enable normal teaching and learning to resume.
