Teacher Unions Threaten Nationwide Action - Gov't Fails to Honour September Promotion Deal
Kumasi - Tension is brewing in the education sector as the three pre-tertiary teacher unions have given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to address outstanding concerns over promotions and conditions of service or face nationwide unrest.
The unions - the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) - issued the warning in an urgent notice to teachers dated Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
According to the unions, government has failed to fully implement an agreement to automatically place all teachers promoted in 2025 on their correct salary scales and pay their corresponding arrears by the end of September 2026. 51d8
The unions say the failure to complete the process has generated tension and anger among teachers across the country, describing it as a violation of an agreement already reached with government. 51d8
In the notice signed by Thomas T. Musah, General Secretary of GNAT; Jacob Anaba, President of NAGRAT; and King Ali Awudu, President of PRETAG, the unions did not mince words.
> “If by mid-day, Thursday, 24th September, 2026, all the issues are not addressed, the Teacher Unions will not be able to restrain the teachers anymore and whatever happens, the duty bearers should take full responsibility. This is not a threat but a promise.” 51d8
Beyond the 2025 promotion placements and arrears, the unions also cited other unresolved matters including the renewal of the Collective Agreement and the payment of Deprived Area Allowances. 51d8
This latest ultimatum comes barely three weeks after the Ministry of Education held a crunch meeting with the unions on August 31, where government assured that close to 80,000 teachers would be placed on their correct scales and that a supplementary payroll would capture those who remain unplaced by end of September. d733
At that meeting, the unions had agreed to call off a planned strike following assurances from the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
But with the deadline now shifted to midday September 24, the unions say frustration is growing again, as over 100,000 teachers who passed promotion examinations in 2025 have remained on their old salary scales.
The unions have, however, called on teachers to remain calm and follow official directives from their leadership, while urging them to participate in any actions formally announced by the leadership if government fails to act.
Efforts to get a response from the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education were unsuccessful as at press time.
