Teacher unions in Ghana are threatening industrial action by July 17, 2026, if the government and education authorities fail to resolve long-standing issues concerning teacher promotions, service conditions, and collective bargaining agreements.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-GH) expressed frustration over what they describe as deliberate delays and a “provocative” recent directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES) Headquarters for staff personal files for a job evaluation.
This directive, according to the unions, undermines previous efforts and directives from the National Labour Commission and President John Dramani Mahama to address these critical challenges.
In a joint statement issued by the three unions, the leadership described a recent directive from the GES Headquarters requesting staff personal files for a nationwide job evaluation exercise as “provocative, offensive and disappointing.”
According to the unions, the move appears to be an attempt to delay the implementation of agreed reforms and the resolution of issues that have remained outstanding despite directives from both the National Labour Commission (NLC) and President John Dramani Mahama.
“The attention of the Teacher Unions has been drawn to a letter dated June 9, 2026, written by the GES Headquarters, in collaboration with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and addressed to all Regional Directors of GES requesting staff personal files for a job evaluation exercise.”
The unions argued that the request undermines efforts already made to resolve promotion and career progression challenges within the Ghana Education Service.
“We deem this letter provocative, offensive, and disappointing, and a ploy by the duty bearers to delay the process of addressing the challenges confronting teachers as directed by the President of the Republic.”
The unions warned that continued delays could trigger unrest within the education sector: “We wish to caution further that if the said challenges confronting teachers are not addressed immediately, it could explode, and the consequences to the education front could be dire.“
At the centre of the dispute is the implementation of a Scheme of Service for GES staff, an issue that dates back to a nationwide strike declared by the teacher unions on March 20, 2024.
That industrial action was prompted by several grievances, including concerns over the appointment and promotion structure for senior officers within the Ghana Education Service.
Specifically, the unions objected to the practice where Director II and Director I positions were tied to political districts and regions, a system they argued limited promotion opportunities for qualified officers.
Following the strike, the National Labour Commission intervened and convened meetings involving the teacher unions, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ghana Education Service.
The NLC subsequently directed the Ghana Education Service to negotiate and implement a comprehensive Scheme of Service covering all staff categories to prevent future disputes over appointments and promotions.
The unions noted that the GES later submitted a draft Scheme of Service to them for review, and extensive consultations were held with the support of consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers. According to the unions, the document was completed and is awaiting formal approval, signing and implementation.
However, they expressed disappointment that two years after the directive, the scheme has still not been operationalised. “We are disappointed, shocked, provoked and angry with the turn of events,” the statement said, adding that the same challenges that led to the 2024 strike have resurfaced despite the intervention of the NLC.
The unions also accused authorities of disregarding directives issued by President Mahama aimed at decoupling Director II and Director I positions from political districts and regions to facilitate the promotion of Deputy Directors.
The latest concerns come at a time when another major labour issue is emerging within the education sector. The teacher unions revealed that negotiations for a new collective agreement, which should replace the current agreement expiring in June 2026, have not yet commenced.
They described the delay as troubling, saying repeated concerns raised with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ministry of Education have not yielded results.
Beyond the pending collective agreement, the unions highlighted several provisions in the 2024 Collective Agreement that remain unfulfilled. Among them is the implementation of an approved Scheme of Service for all grades of staff within the Ghana Education Service.
The unions contend that this requirement has not been met despite explicit provisions in the agreement They also cited unresolved issues regarding the promotion of Deputy Directors to Director II and subsequently Director I positions.
Under the 2024 Collective Agreement, all outstanding matters relating to those promotions were expected to be resolved by September 2024. In addition, the unions said progress has stalled on the implementation of deprived area allowances for teachers working in underserved communities.
The 2024 Collective Agreement required the Ministry of Education and the GES to review the deprived area report and negotiate implementation arrangements with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
Teacher unions in Ghana have for years advocated improved incentives for educators serving in remote and hard-to-reach communities, arguing that such measures are necessary to attract and retain qualified teachers in deprived areas.
To address the current impasse, the unions have presented four key demands. They want the GES to obtain information required for any job evaluation exercise through established administrative structures rather than collecting teachers’ personal files. They are also demanding the completion, signing, and implementation of the Scheme of Service by July 17, 2026.
Additionally, they want negotiations on a new collective agreement concluded and implemented by the same deadline, while all outstanding promotion issues involving Deputy Directors, Director II and Director I positions should also be resolved.
The unions have called on all relevant institutions to act urgently to prevent further deterioration of labour relations within the education sector. “Consequently, we call all the duty bearers to act swiftly to save teachers from the precarious and difficult situation currently confronting them by July 17, 2026,” the statement said.
They warned that should the deadline pass without a favourable response, they would determine their next course of action, raising the prospect of renewed industrial unrest in Ghana’s pre-tertiary education sector.
The development is likely to attract significant attention from government, education managers and labour stakeholders, particularly as the country continues efforts to improve learning outcomes and maintain stability in the public education system.