The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has denied reports that its Chief Executive, Dr George Smith-Graham, said striking teachers would have their salaries deducted for every day they stay away from the classroom. In a statement on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, the Commission said he “did not make the comments attributed to him.”
The statement, signed by the FWSC’s Head of Public Affairs, Emelia Ennin, urged the public and the media to disregard the reports and any conclusions drawn from them.
It comes as the nationwide strike by three pre-tertiary teacher unions, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) enters its second week.
The unions laid down their tools in late September over outstanding promotion arrears, salary placement and other conditions of service.
FWSC Denies CEO Said Striking Teachers Will Lose Pay for Every Day Off Work as GNAT, NAGRAT, PRETAG Strike Continues [VIDEO]
FWSC says salary deduction comments do not reflect its position
According to the Commission, the purported comments do not reflect the position of either the CEO or the FWSC on the ongoing industrial action.
The FWSC said it “acknowledges the importance of the concerns raised by the unions” and asked the public to rely only on verified information from the Commission and other appropriate authorities.
What the earlier salary deduction report said
Earlier on Wednesday, 3News reported that Dr Smith-Graham, speaking on the GhanAkoma programme, warned that teachers could lose pay if their strike was deemed illegal.
The report quoted him as saying: “If you go on an illegal strike, once it is illegal, every day you stay home, your salary will be deducted.”
The same report said government hoped to reach an agreement before Friday, October 9, and could take steps on salaries if the strike was still on by October 15. The FWSC’s statement now disowns the comments attributed to its CEO.
PRETAG dares government to deduct teachers’ salaries
Before the denial, PRETAG’s Director of Communications, Kingsley Ayimadu, reacted sharply to the reported threat on Rainbow Radio.
“We dare them to deduct a single penny and see how we respond,” he said, describing the threat as “purely for public consumption.”
He added that teachers would stay out of classrooms “for as long as our demands remain unmet, even if it takes months or a year.” PRETAG had earlier rejected government’s arrears payment plan, as GhanaTrends reported on PRETAG’s stance on the October 16 arrears payment.
Teachers’ strike negotiations: where talks stand
The FWSC met leaders of the three unions on Tuesday, October 6, in a meeting chaired by Dr Smith-Graham.
Attendees included GNAT General Secretary Thomas Musah, NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba and PRETAG President King Awudu Ali. The talks ended without a final agreement.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu had earlier held an emergency meeting with the unions and said the FWSC would lead formal negotiations on behalf of government.
- Unions on strike: GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG
- Main demands: promotion arrears, correct salary placement, conditions of service
- Latest talks: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 — no final agreement
- FWSC denial issued: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- Next meeting date: not yet announced
What the FWSC denial means for teachers and parents
For teachers, the denial means there is no official FWSC position, for now, that salaries will be cut for days spent on strike.
For parents and pupils in public basic and senior high schools, however, classes remain disrupted, with the unions insisting they will not return until concrete action is taken on their demands.
What happens next in the teachers’ strike
The FWSC says it will reconvene the engagement at a later date after further consultations on the unions’ demands and with other stakeholders. No date has been announced.
Both sides are also consulting their members before the next round of talks. More details are expected from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
Key details at a glance
- FWSC denies CEO Dr George Smith-Graham threatened daily salary deductions for striking teachers.
- Statement signed by FWSC Head of Public Affairs Emelia Ennin on October 7, 2026.
- GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG have been on a nationwide strike since late September.
- Demands include promotion arrears, salary placement and conditions of service.
- FWSC–union talks on October 6 ended without a final deal.
- PRETAG says teachers will stay home until demands are met.
- No date yet for the next round of negotiations.
FAQs
Will striking teachers’ salaries be deducted in Ghana?
The FWSC says its CEO did not say striking teachers’ salaries would be deducted and that the reports do not reflect its position. No official decision on deductions has been announced.
Why are GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG on strike?
The three unions are demanding payment of promotion arrears, correct salary placement and improved conditions of service.
When will the teachers’ strike end?
There is no end date yet. The FWSC says it will reconvene talks after further consultations, while the unions say they will stay out until their demands are met.
The FWSC’s denial removes, for now, the threat of daily pay cuts hanging over striking teachers, but it does not end the standoff. With no date fixed for fresh talks and the unions vowing to stay out of classrooms, pressure is mounting on both sides to reach a deal and get pupils back to school.
