A meeting between the teacher unions and key government officials was held on Friday, 2nd October 2026, to discuss outstanding issues affecting teachers, including promotions, the Collective Agreement, and the Deprived Area Allowance.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Education, the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and the Minister of Finance. Other officials present included the Director-Generals of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the TVET Service, the Controller and Accountant-General, and the Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
Issues Discussed
- Teacher Promotions
The meeting discussed the issue of outstanding teacher promotions.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister for Education, indicated that about 51,000 teachers have been processed and vetted and are expected to be paid by 16th October 2026.
The remaining promoted teachers are expected to be paid together with their October 2026 salaries, he said.
This development is expected to address part of the concerns raised by teachers regarding delays in the processing of promotion-related payments.
- Collective Agreement
The Collective Agreement was also discussed during the meeting.
A mandate has been given to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to begin negotiations with the teacher unions on Tuesday, 6th October 2026.
The negotiations are expected to be completed within one week.
The outcome of these negotiations is expected to provide further direction on issues contained in the Collective Agreement between the government and the teacher unions.
- Deprived Area Allowance
The Deprived Area Allowance was another major issue discussed at the meeting.
A committee has been established to review the work that has already been done on the allowance and develop a clear roadmap towards its payment.
The committee is expected to complete its work by the end of December 2026, with the aim of making the payment in January 2027.
Following the meeting, the teacher unions agreed to meet with their respective councils to discuss the issues raised and the commitments made by the government.
The unions are expected to revert to the Minister by Monday, 5th October 2026.
Despite the discussions and commitments made at the meeting, the teacher unions have indicated that the strike action will continue until further notice.
The unions are therefore expected to consult their respective councils before communicating their next steps.
Teachers and other stakeholders will be looking forward to further communication from the unions and government following their respective consultations.
