The indefinite strike by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) is rooted in unresolved concerns over teacher promotions, unpaid deprived-area allowances and the expiration of the association’s collective agreement, President Jacob Anaba has said.
Mr Anaba said the association took the decision to strike after several engagements with the government failed to produce satisfactory resolutions to the three issues.
Speaking on Ekosiisen on Asempa FM, he said the collective agreement expired in June, while the government had yet to fulfil its commitment to pay deprived-area allowances.
He said delays in processing promotions had also affected about 80,000 teachers who completed promotional examinations in December 2025 and February 2026.
According to Mr Anaba, the affected teachers expected their examination results and promotions to translate into placement on the appropriate salary scales, but that had not happened by July 2026.
“About 80,000 teachers who wrote exams in December 2025 and February 2026, which we were expecting would automatically place them on their right scale of payment, but since December last year up to July, we did not see anything like that,” he said.
Mr Anaba said the association had maintained discussions with government before resorting to industrial action.
“We had been in constant conversations with the government, but to no avail; that is why we declared the strike. The strike is indefinite,” he said.
He further expressed concern over what he described as a deterioration in the process for promoting teachers under the current administration.
“Our promotions have been smooth until the NDC government returned to power,” he said.
Talks with government
Mr Anaba said NAGRAT subsequently met with the Minister of Education and the Director-General of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department on October 2.
The engagements led to discussions with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) over the association’s demands.
However, he said the latest negotiations ended without an agreement after NAGRAT and the FWSC presented different proposals on the issues under discussion.
“We were looking for a certain quantum of increment, but they made a certain proposal, which we disagreed with,” he said.
The NAGRAT President declined to disclose the details of the proposals, explaining that the association would make them public after an agreement had been reached.
“In this case, it is not a fair labour practice to disclose the details, so when we conclude, we will communicate them,” he said.
NAGRAT’s strike will therefore remain in force pending further negotiations and a resolution of the issues raised by the association.
