Dr. George Smith-Graham, the Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, clarified that under Ghana’s Labour Act, workers who participate in an illegal strike may forfeit their remuneration for the period they remain away from work. He noted that while the legal provision allows for such penalties, the government has historically demonstrated flexibility in its enforcement.
“If you go on an illegal strike, once it is illegal, every day you stay home, your salary will be deducted. That is what is supposed to be done, just that here in Ghana we are a bit flexible,” Dr. Smith-Graham said.
The warning comes as the nationwide strike, initiated by the three main pre-tertiary teacher unions, enters its second week without a final resolution. The strike was declared effective on Friday, September 25, 2026, following the government’s failure to meet a midday deadline on September 24 to address long-standing grievances. The unions involved are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers’ Association of Ghana (PRETAG).
The industrial action was triggered by what union leaders described as prolonged delays and unfulfilled commitments. In a joint statement, the unions cited three primary concerns: the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement, the failure to automatically place newly promoted teachers on appropriate salary scales, and the non-implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance. Specifically, the unions are demanding the immediate payroll placement of approximately 8,000 teachers who have successfully passed promotion examinations but have not yet been recognized on the government payroll. Additionally, they are pressing for the payment of the 20 percent Deprived Area Allowance, which remains in arrears.
Negotiations between the unions and the FWSC continued on Tuesday, October 6, but concluded without a final agreement. Dr. Smith-Graham indicated that the government hopes to reach a consensus before Friday, October 9, to prevent the dispute from escalating further. However, he warned that if the strike remains active by October 15, the government may be compelled to take formal steps regarding salaries for the period of the strike.
The Ministry of Education has also engaged in the process, with Press Secretary Hasmin Mohammed confirming that the Minister scheduled a meeting with the three unions for Monday to pursue a resolution and prevent further disruption to the academic calendar. The unions, however, have maintained a firm stance, insisting they will remain off the job until concrete actions are taken to address their demands rather than relying on verbal assurances from the government.
The strike has resulted in significant disruptions across the country. In the Ashanti Region, PRETAG directed its members not to enter classrooms, reflecting the broader nationwide directive to stay off the job until the government meets their conditions. The standoff highlights the tension between the state’s legal authority to penalize illegal industrial action and the unions’ leverage to halt educational services until their contractual and financial demands are met.
Under the Labour Act, an employer may also terminate a worker’s services without notice for breach of contract if the strike is deemed illegal. This legal backdrop adds a layer of risk for the striking teachers as the deadline approaches. The government’s position remains one of hope for a negotiated settlement, aiming to avoid the administrative and financial complexities of implementing widespread salary deductions for thousands of public sector employees.
As the October 9 deadline approaches, the focus shifts to whether the ongoing discussions will yield a breakthrough. The outcome will determine whether the academic calendar recovers or if the dispute escalates into a more protracted legal and industrial confrontation.
