GES appeals to teachers to suspend strike amid government talks
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has appealed to pre-tertiary teacher unions to suspend their ongoing strike, as government engages relevant institutions to address their outstanding concerns.
GES Director-General, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, warned that the industrial action could disrupt the stability of the academic calendar, which he described as a major achievement following years of interruptions.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, September 29, Professor Davis said government was working with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and other stakeholders to resolve the concerns raised by the unions.
He urged the unions to reconsider their decision and allow the ongoing discussions to continue.
“We wish to associate ourselves therefore with the Ministry of Education’s appeal to teachers to rescind their decision as we work hard to address their issues,” he said.
Professor Davis said the 2026/27 academic year marked an important milestone in efforts to restore predictability to Ghana’s education system.
According to him, students across various levels of pre-tertiary education reported to school within September for the first time in about six years.
He attributed the development to sustained efforts to restore stability and synchronise the academic calendar.
“For the first time in approximately six years, we have reached a point where students across the various levels of our education system have reported to school within September. This did not happen by accident. It was achieved through hard work,” he said.
He stressed that a synchronised academic calendar benefits not only schools but also parents and other stakeholders by providing clear timelines for academic planning.
The GES Director-General also highlighted measures introduced to improve teachers’ conditions of service, including the mechanisation of promotions, and assured educators of the Service’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations.
While acknowledging that challenges remain, Professor Davis said preserving the stability of the academic year should be a collective responsibility.
The strike by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) began on September 25.
The unions are demanding the payment of outstanding promotion arrears, progress on negotiations for a new Collective Agreement and implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance, among other concerns.
The industrial action began less than two weeks after the start of the new academic year, with the GES warning that a prolonged strike could undermine efforts to maintain the restored academic calendar.
By Esther Padmore Amonoo
