GNAT Maintains Strike as Salary Dispute with Government Continues

GNAT General Secretary Thomas Tanko Musah said the unions did not take the decision to strike with the intention of disrupting the education system. He explained that the action followed unsuccessful efforts to secure the implementation of arrangements agreed with the government.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on October 4, 2026, Mr Musah said newly promoted teachers were expected to receive their revised salaries without having to provide additional documents.

He said the government was expected to direct the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to process the affected teachers’ payments, but the arrangement had not been carried out as expected.

According to Mr Musah, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department is responsible for processing salaries, while teachers are employed by the government. He therefore argued that responsibility for ensuring that teachers receive their approved salaries ultimately rests with their employer.

The nationwide strike commenced on September 25, 2026, after GNAT, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and other pre-tertiary teacher unions announced the industrial action.

Among their demands are the automatic placement of promoted teachers on the correct salary scales, payment of outstanding arrears and adjustments, implementation of the 20 percent Deprived Area Allowance, and action on expired conditions of service and collective agreements.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson have called on the unions to suspend the strike while negotiations continue. The government has also indicated its willingness to engage the unions through the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

The teacher unions, however, have continued to demand concrete action on the outstanding payments before calling off the strike, leaving the dispute unresolved.

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