Fair Wages and Salaries Commission engages striking teachers over conditions of service
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has begun formal discussions with the leadership of Ghana’s three pre-tertiary teacher unions as part of efforts to resolve outstanding issues surrounding their collective agreement and conditions of service.
The engagement took place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, following the nationwide strike declared by the unions over unresolved concerns. The industrial action officially began on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The meeting, held at the premises of the FWSC, was chaired by the Commission’s Chief Executive, Dr George Smith-Graham.
The union side was represented by the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah; President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Jacob Anaba; and President of the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), King Awudu Ali, alongside other leaders.
Discussions focused on the outstanding demands presented by the unions, with the FWSC using the meeting to engage the leadership on the issues requiring resolution before a final agreement can be reached.
The three unions have been pushing for the conclusion of negotiations on their collective agreement and conditions of service amid the ongoing industrial action.
Speaking after Tuesday’s meeting, Dr Smith-Graham said the discussions would resume at a later date after the Commission had undertaken further consultations on the demands tabled by the unions.
He explained that the consultations would allow the FWSC to properly assess the concerns raised and engage other relevant stakeholders before returning to the negotiating table.
The FWSC Chief Executive also commended the union leaders for the peaceful nature of the engagement.
Government seeks end to strike
The meeting followed an emergency engagement convened by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, with the three teacher unions on Monday, September 28, 2026, shortly after their nationwide strike commenced.
At that meeting, the Minister announced that the FWSC would take the lead in the next phase of negotiations between the government and the unions.
“The FWSC will meet with the unions on Tuesday to continue detailed discussions on their collective agreement and conditions of service,” he said.
Tuesday’s engagement therefore forms part of the formal process initiated by the government to address the unresolved issues relating to the collective agreement and conditions of service of the three pre-tertiary teacher unions.
Meanwhile, the government has appealed to the unions to suspend the strike to create a conducive environment for negotiations and support efforts to reach an agreement on the outstanding matters.