“We Won’t Return to the Classroom” – Ashanti Teacher Unions Reaffirm Strike
The Ashanti Regional Secretariats of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers’ Association of Ghana (PRETAG) have reaffirmed their support for the nationwide teachers’ strike.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Kumasi on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, GNAT Ashanti Regional Secretary Daniel Kwaku Atakora said teachers in the region would follow the directives of their national leadership and would not return to the classroom until their concerns were satisfactorily addressed.
The unions have given the government until October 16, 2026, to provide verifiable evidence that outstanding promotion-related salary arrears have been paid.
The unions highlighted three major concerns:
- Promotion placements and arrears: Teachers who passed the December 2025 and February 2026 promotion examinations should be placed on the appropriate salary grades, with their arrears paid from January 2026.
- New collective agreement: The unions are demanding a clear and time-bound plan to conclude negotiations for a replacement for the expired collective agreement.
- Deprived-area allowance: They are calling for specific arrangements and a clear timetable for implementing the allowance for teachers serving in rural and underserved communities.
The unions said the strike, which began on September 25, 2026, followed missed deadlines and commitments they believe have not been fulfilled.
Mr. Atakora also raised concerns about excessive workloads, repetitive administrative reporting, and the general wellbeing of teachers.
“Is it a crime to be a teacher in Ghana?” he asked.
The unions are calling on the Ghana Education Service to review teachers’ workloads, eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements, and provide confidential counselling and referral services for staff experiencing distress.
“Accountability must be matched by reasonable workloads, adequate resources, timely remuneration and respectful treatment,” Atakora said.
Although the unions acknowledged the disruption the strike is causing learners and families, they maintained that their demands for fair treatment are linked to their commitment to providing quality education.
They said members would continue to support the industrial action until their concerns are addressed and further directives are issued by their national leadership.
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