The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has expressed its willingness to address concerns raised by Ghana’s pre-tertiary teacher unions regarding their conditions of service.
However, the Commission has urged the unions to be patient until the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission is established. The new body is expected to take over responsibility for public sector allowances and compensation-related matters.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), however, say they are unwilling to wait indefinitely for a commission whose establishment and legal framework remain uncertain.
The unions have consequently maintained September 7, 2026, as the deadline for industrial action if their demands are not addressed.
Teacher Unions Demand Implementation of Allowances
The unions are pushing for the implementation of previously agreed conditions of service, including a 20 per cent deprived-area allowance, digital allowance, and professional development allowance.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission says it has already held discussions with the teacher unions regarding their concerns.
Its Chief Executive, Dr. Smith Graham, explained that the Commission is not conducting a comprehensive review of conditions of service this year because of the planned transition to the Independent Public Emoluments Commission.
He said the FWSC is instead focusing on specific allowances that can be addressed during the transition period and urged the unions to wait for the new commission.
NAGRAT Rejects Call for Patience
The President of NAGRAT, Jacob Anaba, has rejected the suggestion that teachers should suspend their demands until the proposed commission is established.
According to him, the allowances being demanded have already been agreed upon and should therefore be implemented without further delays.
He stressed that teachers are awaiting the payment of the deprived-area, digital, and professional development allowances and cannot postpone the matter until an uncertain future.
GNAT Warns of Industrial Action
GNAT General Secretary Thomas Tanko Musah has also criticized the continued delay in resolving the issue.
He warned that the government must take concrete steps before September 7 to prevent the unions from embarking on industrial action.
Mr. Musah argued that the existence of an agreement between the unions and government means the implementation of the agreed conditions should not be delayed simply because a new public emoluments commission is being proposed.
The three teacher unions have reiterated that they will proceed with industrial action on September 7 if meaningful progress is not made on their demands.
The standoff has increased pressure on the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to find a solution before the unions’ deadline.