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GNAT Pushes for Clear Implementation Procedures of Teachers’ Conditions of Service
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) wants clear procedures for implementing teachers’ conditions of service. The union warns that agreements may stay unfulfilled for years without a defined process.
GNAT President Prosper Tachie made the comments on JoyNews’ Newsfile. He said the union wants the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to finalise implementation procedures before anyone concludes the outstanding negotiations.
Furthermore, he described implementation as a major challenge in previous agreements.
Benefits Left Hanging for Years Must Not Happen Again
Prosper Tachie stressed that GNAT will not repeat past mistakes. In earlier agreements, the parties agreed on the main document. However, they left the procedures for accessing benefits unresolved for years.
Moreover, the union now wants the Ministry and GES to finalise a document that spells out how teachers can access certain benefits. Therefore, GNAT insists that the parties conclude implementation procedures before they wrap up any outstanding negotiations.
Government Commits to Paying Arrears to 51,000 Teachers by October 16
Tachie’s comments follow the decision by pre-tertiary teachers to suspend their nationwide strike. The suspension came after engagements with the Labour Minister and the Council of State. The government has promised to pay promotion-related arrears to more than 51,000 teachers by October 16, 2026.
In addition, it will pay the professional development allowance in November and the digital support allowance in December. Furthermore, GNAT secured revised positions on some allowances after negotiating with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ministry of Finance.
Strike Suspension Is Interim as Talks Continue
Tachie stressed that the strike suspension is interim. Discussions on outstanding provisions of the collective agreement will continue. As a result, teachers will return to classrooms on Monday, October 12, 2026.
However, GNAT remains firm. The union demands a clear and enforceable framework for implementing teachers’ conditions of service. This time, it says, no benefit will hang without a defined process for accessing it.