Public basic schools nationwide have resumed regular academic activities beginning from today, Monday, October 12, after pre-tertiary teacher unions suspended their nationwide strike.
The industrial action, which began on September 25, 2026, was called by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers.
It was suspended on Friday after the unions reached an agreement with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) over outstanding allowances and arrears.
Union leaders directed their members to return to the classroom on Monday, while discussions on their remaining grievances continued.
The decision to suspend the strike came after meetings with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and the Council of State earlier on Friday.
GNAT General Secretary Mr Thomas Musah called on teachers to resume work, explaining that discussions with the FWSC on promotion allowances, deprived-area allowances and outstanding arrears had been concluded.
Meanwhile, NAGRAT President Mr Jacob Anaba assured teachers that the arrears owed to them would be settled.
He noted that appeals from well-meaning Ghanaians for the unions to call off the strike highlighted the vital role teachers play in the country.
“We hope not to go to this length of industrial action again. We urge everyone, including the media and the public, to join the advocacy for improved conditions of service for teachers,” he added.
The Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, Dr George Smith-Graham, announced that the Government would outline the arrangements for paying the deprived-area allowance in January 2027.
According to him, arrears linked to promotion and placement would be paid to 51,000 teachers by October 16, while the outstanding payments were expected to be completed by the end of October.
Dr Smith-Graham also disclosed that negotiations on the complementary digital instruction support allowance had been finalised, with payments scheduled for November 2026.
He further stated that discussions on the continuous professional development allowance had been concluded, and the payments were expected to be made in December 2026.
Despite the progress, he said negotiations on other unresolved matters would continue.
The teacher unions began the strike to protest delays in moving promoted staff onto their appropriate salary scales, alongside the failure to pay promotion allowances and outstanding arrears.
