Public basic schools across Ghana resume full academic activities today, Monday, October 12, 2026, after the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) suspended their nationwide strike. Under the deal that ended the action, an initial 51,000 teachers are to receive their promotion arrears by October 16.
The three unions began the strike on September 25, 2026, over unpaid allowances, promotion arrears and wider conditions of service. Classrooms in public basic schools stayed largely empty for about two weeks.
The unions suspended the action on Friday, October 9, after a day of talks that started at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, moved to the Council of State and ended at the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
A joint communiqué was signed by government representatives, including the FWSC and the Ghana Education Service (GES), and executives of all three unions.
Teachers’ strike suspended after Council of State intervention
The Council of State, led by former Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho, helped broker the talks that ended the standoff.
GNAT General Secretary Thomas Musah urged members to return to the classroom. He said discussions with the FWSC on promotion and deprived-area allowances, and on outstanding arrears, had concluded.
The unions have asked that copies of the agreements be lodged with the Council of State to help ensure they are honoured.
Teachers’ promotion arrears payment dates and allowances agreed
The agreement sets out a payment timetable for the unions’ main demands:
- Promotion placement arrears (first batch): 51,000 teachers to be paid by October 16, 2026
- Promotion arrears (remaining teachers): full payment by October 31, 2026
- Digital Instruction Support Allowance: payment in November 2026
- Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Allowance: payment in December 2026
- Deprived Area Allowance: modalities to be worked out, with full implementation in January 2027
The amounts involved in each payment have not been made public.
The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) had earlier said it was processing the promotions of about 52,000 teachers ahead of the mid-October payment. GhanaTrends reported on that process in CAGD’s plan to pay teachers’ promotion arrears by October 16.
Education Ministry commends teacher unions
In a statement signed by its Press Secretary, Hashmin Mohammed, the Ministry of Education described the suspension as “a positive step towards resolving outstanding concerns through dialogue.”
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with the unions, the FWSC and other stakeholders. It also thanked teachers, parents and learners for their patience during the strike.
Strike suspended, not called off — GNAT
The unions stress that the return to work is conditional. Speaking on Citi TV’s Eyewitness News, Thomas Musah said: “The issues have not been completed. Negotiations have not ended or concluded.”
The unions have warned that the strike will resume immediately if the government misses the agreed payment dates. Both sides say talks will continue on the remaining conditions of service.
What the strike suspension means for pupils and parents
For millions of pupils in public basic schools, today marks a return to normal teaching after about two weeks of lost contact hours.
Parents can expect classes to run on regular timetables from today. The Ghana Education Service has not yet announced any changes to the academic calendar to make up for the time lost.
For teachers, the immediate test is whether promotion arrears reach the first 51,000 beneficiaries by Friday, October 16.
What happens next
October 16 is the first major checkpoint. Payment of promotion arrears for the first batch of teachers is due by that date, with the rest due by October 31.
Further allowance payments follow in November and December, and talks on the deprived-area allowance continue ahead of its January 2027 rollout.
Any missed deadline could trigger a fresh shutdown of public basic schools, according to the unions.
Key details at a glance
- Public basic schools resume today, Monday, October 12, 2026.
- Unions involved: GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG.
- Strike ran from September 25 to October 9, 2026.
- 51,000 teachers to receive promotion arrears by October 16; the rest by October 31.
- Digital Instruction Support Allowance due in November; CPD Allowance in December.
- Deprived Area Allowance to be implemented from January 2027.
- Unions warn the strike will resume if payment deadlines are missed.
FAQs
Are public schools in Ghana open today?
Yes. Public basic schools resume normal academic activities today, Monday, October 12, 2026, after teacher unions suspended their strike on October 9.
When will teachers’ promotion arrears be paid?
An initial 51,000 teachers are to be paid by October 16, 2026, and all remaining affected teachers by October 31, 2026.
Why did GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG go on strike?
The unions went on strike from September 25, 2026, over unpaid promotion arrears, outstanding allowances and conditions of service.
Public basic schools are back in session after a two-week strike, but the peace depends on the government keeping to a tight payment timetable that starts with promotion arrears for 51,000 teachers by October 16. GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG have made clear that the strike is only suspended and could resume if the deadlines are missed.
