Teacher unions have refused to call off their nationwide strike, saying they need written commitments and evidence of action from the government before returning to the classroom.

The position followed a meeting on Monday between the unions, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and other government officials. According to the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the discussions offered little beyond assurances teachers had already heard.

“It has been the old story of promises upon promises,” GNAT said, adding: “Where we have reached at the moment, we are not taking promises. We want action.”

GNAT Head of Salaries Isaac Baah said teachers would not return until outstanding salaries and arrears actually reflect on their payslips and are credited to their accounts.

“Our teachers must continue to stay home until we see something concrete. Until we see the salary, the arrears reflect on our payslips and are credited to our accounts. Until we see that, we are not going back to school,” he said.

Mr Baah also demanded documentary evidence for the government's assurance that the Deprived Area Allowance would be introduced in January 2027.

“So what is the evidence? What has been put on paper? What is on paper to show that they will start paying the deprived area allowance by 2027? We want to see it. We want to see something documented,” he said.

He said negotiations over a new Collective Agreement were another major concern. The previous agreement has expired, leaving some allowances due in September unresolved.

“There are allowances that ought to be paid this month, September. And because it has expired, we've not concluded on it. And there's no timeline for when we are going to finish with the negotiation,” he said.

Government officials are expected to present a timeline for completing the negotiations at another meeting on Tuesday. Mr Baah said the unions could reconsider the strike if the timeline is clear, acceptable and documented.

“If we know that and it is on paper... definitely we'll have no choice but to say that... let us go back to the classroom,” he said.

GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG began the strike on September 25 after the government failed to resolve their concerns by a September 24 deadline.