The President of the Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), King Ali Awudu, has said some teachers who have recently been promoted are receiving as little as GH¢100 increase in their monthly salaries.
He said the situation, coupled with outstanding arrears and unresolved concerns over teachers’ conditions of service, has pushed the unions to declare an indefinite nationwide strike.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr Awudu said teachers were frustrated by prolonged delays in addressing their concerns and warned that they would not return to the classroom until the issues were resolved.
“Our members who have been promoted from Assistant Director to Deputy Director are receiving only a GH¢100 salary increase. If the government does not do the right thing, we will never return to the classroom. Our members are really suffering,” he said.
He explained that some teachers who were due for promotion two years ago have only recently received their promotions, leaving government with significant outstanding arrears.
According to him, teachers have also made concessions by sacrificing part of their arrears to support the government, but are yet to receive some of the outstanding payments.
“A teacher that was supposed to be promoted two years ago has now been promoted. Government owes that teacher 24 months’ arrears. Then the teacher unions go to trade as much as 18 months just to help the government, yet they haven’t been paid the six months,” he said.
Mr Awudu said the situation has created frustration among teachers, many of whom are now questioning the ability of their unions to secure better conditions for them.
He also cited the disparity in salaries following promotions as a major concern.
“Someone that has been promoted from Principal Superintendent to Assistant Director Two, the difference in salary is just about GH¢100,” he said.
He further complained about what he described as inadequate allowances, saying teachers currently receive about GH¢800 annually and have been demanding an increase.
“Our allowance per year is just GH¢800, and now we say we want an increment,” he said.
Mr Awudu said teachers had become increasingly frustrated with their leaders because of the unresolved challenges but stressed that the decision to strike was taken only after repeated efforts to engage the government failed.
He said teacher unions often delay industrial action because they consider the impact on students and parents, but warned that the consequences of continued inaction could be wider.
“Anytime we want to declare a strike, we have the children in mind. That is why we don’t declare. But the ripple effect is not even just about the child not going to school; it is also about the inconvenience to parents,” he said.
He urged the government to recognise the importance of teachers to national development and address their concerns urgently.
“The government should know that we are rendering a service, and it is the only critical service that will enlighten the country and promote development,” he said.
The comments come after the three teacher unions, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and PRETAG, declared a nationwide industrial action effective Friday, September 25, 2026.
In a joint statement dated September 25, the unions said the decision followed prolonged delays in resolving critical concerns affecting teachers.
They cited frustrations over the handling of their conditions of service by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).
PRETAG says the strike will remain in force until the outstanding concerns are satisfactorily addressed.
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