Three major teacher unions in the Western Region have suspended their strike action following assurances from the Western Regional Minister over the alleged assault of teachers at Adiewoso M/A Basic School in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
The decision was reached after a meeting on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, between leaders of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-GH), and the Western Regional Minister.
The unions had embarked on industrial action in support of three teachers and the husband of a female teacher who were reportedly assaulted by armed military personnel at the school on April 30, 2026.
The protest initially began as a sit-down strike, with teachers wearing red armbands in schools.
However, it later escalated into a full strike after the unions claimed that concerns raised in a petition to authorities had not been addressed.
Speaking to the media, the unions revealed that the Regional Minister offered an unreserved apology on behalf of the military to the affected teachers and assured them that such an incident would not happen again.
The Minister also promised to facilitate a compensation package for the victims and requested until June 30, 2026, to complete the process.
According to the unions, the Minister appealed to them to suspend the strike while efforts were made to provide the compensation package.
The decision to call off the strike was also influenced by steps already taken by the Ghana Education Service through the Regional Director of Education. These measures include counselling support for the affected teachers, the removal of a related report from official records, and arrangements to allow the affected teachers to seek transfers to locations of their choice.
In view of these assurances and actions, the unions agreed to suspend the strike and directed all teachers in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality to return to work on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The unions expressed gratitude to teachers for their solidarity and cooperation throughout the industrial action. They also thanked the national leadership of the teacher unions, stakeholders who helped resolve the dispute, and the media for drawing attention to the concerns of the affected teachers.
The strike had disrupted teaching and learning in several public basic schools across the municipality, affecting thousands of pupils.
The unions say they will continue to monitor developments to ensure that the promised compensation package and other commitments are fulfilled and that justice is served for the affected teachers.
