The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has denied media reports suggesting that its Chief Executive, Dr George Smith-Graham, directed that the salaries of teachers participating in the ongoing strike would be deducted for every day they remain off work.
In a statement, the Commission said Dr Smith-Graham did not make the comments attributed to him and urged the public and the media to disregard the reports and any conclusions drawn from them.
The FWSC said its current engagement with the three pre-tertiary teacher unions is focused on dialogue and negotiations to address outstanding issues relating to their collective agreement and conditions of service.
As part of efforts to resolve the impasse, the Commission engaged the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The meeting, chaired by Dr Smith-Graham, was attended by GNAT General Secretary Thomas Musah, NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba, PRETAG President King Awudu Ali and other representatives of the three unions.
According to the FWSC, the meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to discuss the outstanding issues and demands raised by the unions.
Dr Smith-Graham said after the meeting that the engagement would be reconvened at a later date to allow the Commission to undertake further consultations on the demands presented by the unions and engage relevant stakeholders before negotiations resume.
He also commended the union leaders for the peaceful manner in which the discussions were conducted.
The engagement forms part of government’s efforts to resolve the concerns of the three teacher unions following the commencement of their nationwide strike on September 28, 2026.
The FWSC’s involvement followed an emergency meeting convened by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu with the leadership of the unions on September 28, after the strike began. The Minister subsequently indicated that the Commission would lead the next phase of formal negotiations on behalf of government.
The FWSC reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with the unions and other stakeholders, saying continued dialogue and good-faith negotiations were critical to finding a mutually acceptable and sustainable resolution.
The Commission also urged the public and media to rely on verified information from the FWSC and other appropriate authorities for updates on the negotiations.
Read the full statement below:
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