
Teacher unions withdraw services over conditions of service
7 mins read
25th September 2026 4:05:38 PM
7 mins readBy: Phoebe Martekie Doku

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) are protesting over unresolved conditions of service.
At a press briefing in Accra on Friday, September 25, the unions directed all pre-tertiary teachers to halt work with immediate effect until their concerns are addressed.
According to the President of PRETAG, King Ali Awudu, attempts to negotiate a new agreement since last year have been unsuccessful, noting that their conditions of service expired in June.
“You will recall that we have once engaged the media and informed you that our conditions of service have expired since June. All efforts to get a new one negotiated since last year have yielded no fruits.“We are asking all teachers that with immediate effect, as soon as this information goes out, they should put all their tools down, leave the classroom, go home and have a very good rest and wait until they hear from leadership again,” he said.
The unions have raised concerns over the proposed 10% increase in the digital allowance, which currently amounts to GH¢800 annually. Mr Awudu also noted that about 80,000 teachers who took aptitude tests in December 2025 and February 2026 were yet to be placed on the appropriate salary scale, despite an earlier agreement to do so and the processing of September salaries.
Meanwhile, it will be recalled that the Ghana Education Service (GES) in a press statement dated 16th October, announced that it has received financial clearance to pay the salaries of 6,249 teachers recruited in 2024.
These teachers had been working after their postings but hadn’t been placed on the government’s payroll, hence they were not receiving salaries for their services.
However, after the Finance Ministry authorised that they can be paid, the education regulator announced that they can now start receiving salaries. In Ghana’s public sector, recruits cannot be paid until the Ministry of Finance issues financial clearance.
Consequently, GES, in the statement, noted that “This approval allows the Ghana Education Service to complete all necessary processes to ensure the staff receive their salaries. Although this financial clearance expires on 31st December 2025, Management of GES will ensure that all staff are placed on the mechanised payroll in time for November 2025 payments.”
The Service expressed appreciation to its staff for their dedication and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the timely and accurate disbursement of salaries.
According to reports, these 6,249 newly recruited teachers mark the last set of recruits that have been cleared to receive a salary.
The Education Minister in mid-October announced that the government will absorb six thousand two hundred teachers into the education system and settle all arrears owed them.
This announcement came after a group of concerned and aggrieved teachers who had worked for months without salary petitioned the office of the Education Minister, he said.
Addressing the petition, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, during a pre-event briefing and regional stakeholder meeting on October 13 ahead of the ADEA Triennale 2025 launch later this month, revealed that the government has earmarked about one million cedis for the payment of teachers’ salaries. He also urged them to give their best to promote academic excellence across the country’s educational institutions.
“A few weeks ago, my Chief Director and I received a petition from some teachers who were unhappy with the government over their delayed salaries. They have worked for several months without pay. I’m happy to announce that the Cabinet has given approval for the 6,200 teachers to be absorbed, and the process will begin in due course. They will receive their staff IDs, and as I assured them, they will also get their back pay.
"But having demonstrated goodwill by doing this, we expect something in return — that they remain committed and dedicated to academic work,” the Minister highlighted.
He revealed that the government has approved one million dollars to absorb the teachers and a category of health workers.
“So, those 6,200 teachers, I think I can speak for both ministries in this matter, the Cabinet has given the Minister of Finance approval to vary the budget and spend about GH₵1.1 billion to absorb a category of health workers and teachers,” the Minister noted.
Meanwhile, it will be recalled that the Ghana Education Service (GES) in a press statement dated 16th October, announced that it has received financial clearance to pay the salaries of 6,249 teachers recruited in 2024.
These teachers had been working after their postings but hadn’t been placed on the government’s payroll, hence they were not receiving salaries for their services.
However, after the Finance Ministry authorised that they can be paid, the education regulator announced that they can now start receiving salaries. In Ghana’s public sector, recruits cannot be paid until the Ministry of Finance issues financial clearance.
Consequently, GES, in the statement, noted that “This approval allows the Ghana Education Service to complete all necessary processes to ensure the staff receive their salaries. Although this financial clearance expires on 31st December 2025, Management of GES will ensure that all staff are placed on the mechanised payroll in time for November 2025 payments.”
The Service expressed appreciation to its staff for their dedication and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the timely and accurate disbursement of salaries.
According to reports, these 6,249 newly recruited teachers mark the last set of recruits that have been cleared to receive a salary.
The Education Minister in mid-October announced that the government will absorb six thousand two hundred teachers into the education system and settle all arrears owed them.
This announcement came after a group of concerned and aggrieved teachers who had worked for months without salary petitioned the office of the Education Minister, he said.
Addressing the petition, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, during a pre-event briefing and regional stakeholder meeting on October 13 ahead of the ADEA Triennale 2025 launch later this month, revealed that the government has earmarked about one million cedis for the payment of teachers’ salaries. He also urged them to give their best to promote academic excellence across the country’s educational institutions.
“A few weeks ago, my Chief Director and I received a petition from some teachers who were unhappy with the government over their delayed salaries. They have worked for several months without pay. I’m happy to announce that the Cabinet has given approval for the 6,200 teachers to be absorbed, and the process will begin in due course. They will receive their staff IDs, and as I assured them, they will also get their back pay.
"But having demonstrated goodwill by doing this, we expect something in return — that they remain committed and dedicated to academic work,” the Minister highlighted.
He revealed that the government has approved one million dollars to absorb the teachers and a category of health workers.
“So, those 6,200 teachers, I think I can speak for both ministries in this matter, the Cabinet has given the Minister of Finance approval to vary the budget and spend about GH₵1.1 billion to absorb a category of health workers and teachers,” the Minister noted.
Meanwhile, it will be recalled that the Ghana Education Service (GES) in a press statement dated 16th October, announced that it has received financial clearance to pay the salaries of 6,249 teachers recruited in 2024.
These teachers had been working after their postings but hadn’t been placed on the government’s payroll, hence they were not receiving salaries for their services.
However, after the Finance Ministry authorised that they can be paid, the education regulator announced that they can now start receiving salaries. In Ghana’s public sector, recruits cannot be paid until the Ministry of Finance issues financial clearance.
Consequently, GES, in the statement, noted that “This approval allows the Ghana Education Service to complete all necessary processes to ensure the staff receive their salaries. Although this financial clearance expires on 31st December 2025, Management of GES will ensure that all staff are placed on the mechanised payroll in time for November 2025 payments.”
The Service expressed appreciation to its staff for their dedication and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the timely and accurate disbursement of salaries.
According to reports, these 6,249 newly recruited teachers mark the last set of recruits that have been cleared to receive a salary.
The Education Minister in mid-October announced that the government will absorb six thousand two hundred teachers into the education system and settle all arrears owed them.
This announcement came after a group of concerned and aggrieved teachers who had worked for months without salary petitioned the office of the Education Minister, he said.
Addressing the petition, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, during a pre-event briefing and regional stakeholder meeting on October 13 ahead of the ADEA Triennale 2025 launch later this month, revealed that the government has earmarked about one million cedis for the payment of teachers’ salaries. He also urged them to give their best to promote academic excellence across the country’s educational institutions.
“A few weeks ago, my Chief Director and I received a petition from some teachers who were unhappy with the government over their delayed salaries. They have worked for several months without pay. I’m happy to announce that the Cabinet has given approval for the 6,200 teachers to be absorbed, and the process will begin in due course. They will receive their staff IDs, and as I assured them, they will also get their back pay.
"But having demonstrated goodwill by doing this, we expect something in return — that they remain committed and dedicated to academic work,” the Minister highlighted.
He revealed that the government has approved one million dollars to absorb the teachers and a category of health workers.
“So, those 6,200 teachers, I think I can speak for both ministries in this matter, the Cabinet has given the Minister of Finance approval to vary the budget and spend about GH₵1.1 billion to absorb a category of health workers and teachers,” the Minister noted.
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