🚨 TEACHER UNIONS DECLARE NATIONWIDE STRIKE EFFECTIVE TODAY
GNAT, NAGRAT AND PRETAG HAVE DECLARED NATIONWIDE INDUSTRIAL ACTION EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026, CITING THREE MAJOR OUTSTANDING CONCERNS AFFECTING TEACHERS.
Teacher unions strike: The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) have declared a nationwide industrial action effective Friday, September 25, 2026.
The declaration was contained in a joint press release dated September 25 and signed by the leadership of the three teacher unions. Current reports from MyJoyOnline and Asaase Radio independently confirm that the unions have commenced the nationwide strike over unresolved issues affecting teachers.
The unions say the decision follows delays and what they describe as unfulfilled commitments concerning teachers’ conditions of service.
TEACHER UNIONS STRIKE: WHAT ARE THE THREE KEY ISSUES?
The joint statement identifies three major issues behind the industrial action.
1. DELAY IN NEGOTIATING THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
According to the teacher unions, the existing Collective Agreement has expired, while negotiations for a new agreement that they say should have been completed by June 2026 remain outstanding.
The unions say they have raised the matter with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) several times but that it remains unresolved.
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2. FAILURE TO AUTOMATICALLY PLACE NEWLY PROMOTED TEACHERS
The unions also cite the failure to automatically place teachers who successfully completed promotion examinations in December 2025 and February 2026 on their respective salary scales.
According to the joint statement, the affected teachers were expected to receive the appropriate salary placement, with arrears effective from January 2026.
The issue has been at the centre of recent discussions between the unions and government. Earlier in September, the Ghana News Agency reported that the unions had received assurances that promoted teachers would be placed on their appropriate grades and ranks by the end of September, with outstanding placements to be addressed through a supplementary payroll process.
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3. NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEPRIVED AREA ALLOWANCE
The third major concern raised by the unions is the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance.
The unions refer to provisions in the 2024 Collective Agreement concerning the review of the Deprived Area Report and subsequent negotiations with the FWSC.
The joint statement says the required process has not been completed.
The issue had also featured in the unions’ earlier September warning to government, alongside the renewal of the Collective Agreement and promotion-related salary arrears.
WHY THE STRIKE HAS STARTED NOW
The current strike follows an earlier deadline issued by the teacher unions.
On September 22, GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG gave government until midday on Thursday, September 24, 2026, to address outstanding concerns. They warned that if the issues were not resolved, they would no longer be able to restrain teachers from taking action.
Citi News reported on September 25 that the September 24 deadline had passed and that the leadership of the three unions was meeting to determine the next course of action.
The subsequent joint press release dated September 25 now declares the industrial action effective today.
WHAT THE TEACHER UNIONS ARE SAYING
In the press release, the unions say the unresolved matters have contributed to disaffection, anger and disillusionment among their members.
They also state that the decision to embark on industrial action follows what they describe as delays, unfulfilled promises and outstanding matters involving the FWSC and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
These are the stated positions of GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG in their joint declaration.
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TEACHER UNIONS STRIKE: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The declaration marks a significant development in the ongoing discussions between the teacher unions and the relevant government institutions.
The immediate issues identified by the unions are the Collective Agreement, promotion placement and arrears, and the Deprived Area Allowance.
Further developments will depend on engagements between the unions and the relevant authorities and any subsequent directives or agreements communicated to teachers.
Teachers should therefore follow official communication from their respective union leadership and relevant education authorities for further instructions.
SMART TEACHERS AVENUE WILL KEEP TEACHERS UPDATED
The teacher unions strike is a developing education-sector story with implications for teachers, schools, learners and parents across Ghana.
Smart Teachers Avenue will continue to monitor developments and provide timely updates as further information becomes available.
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Teachers are encouraged to follow official communication from their union leadership and stay informed about any new directives concerning the industrial action.
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