President Mahama Directs Teachers to End Strike as Unions Demand Verifiable Proof of Payments

President John Mahama has instructed pre-tertiary teacher unions to end their nationwide industrial action, even as regional branches in the Upper West, Upper East, and Western regions vow to continue until they receive "tangible evidence" of payment. The strike, which has significantly disrupted educational services for over five days, centers on long-standing grievances regarding salary arrears, the failure to place promoted teachers on correct salary scales, and the non-implementation of a 20% Deprived Area Allowance. While the government maintains that administrative discrepancies are being resolved, the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) insists that verbal assurances are no longer sufficient to resume duties.

Across the country, regional union leaders have held press conferences to reaffirm their commitment to the strike. In the Upper West and Upper East regions, GNAT, NAGRAT, and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association (PRETAG) branches emphasized that their members will not return to classrooms until the government provides proof that the 2016 agreement on deprived-area allowances is being honored. Similarly, in the Western and Western North regions, GNAT Regional Chairman Mr. Stephen Kwame Amenu criticized the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for allowing the collective bargaining agreement to expire in June 2026 without addressing outstanding arrears. The unions are specifically calling for the automatic placement of newly promoted teachers on their respective salary scales, an issue they say has been ignored despite repeated negotiations.

Government spokesperson and Minister of State Felix Kwakye Ofosu has identified a critical "payment discrepancy" as the primary obstacle to resolving the deadlock. According to Ofosu, there is a technical gap in data reconciliation involving the Accountant-General’s Department, the Finance Ministry, and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). He stated that while the Finance Ministry and the Accountant-General’s Department believe they have fulfilled their responsibilities, the discrepancy must be cleared before payments can be processed. Ofosu assured teachers that their contributions are valued and that President Mahama has been fully briefed, directing all relevant ministries to expedite the resolution to facilitate a swift return to work.

The ongoing standoff highlights a deep-seated lack of trust between the labor unions and the state's financial institutions. Union leaders in the Upper West have explicitly rejected the government's latest assurances, stating that "mere promises are insufficient" and demanding a "tangible outcome" from negotiations. As the strike persists, the disruption to the academic calendar grows, putting pressure on both the Ministry of Education and the Presidency. The resolution now hinges on whether the government can provide the "verifiable proof" demanded by the unions or if President Mahama will be forced to exercise direct presidential intervention to break the stalemate between the finance and education sectors.