GNAT threaten strike over delays in promotions and career progression

Ghana's largest teachers' union has given the government until September 7 to resolve delays in the promotion and placement of teachers, warning that failure to act could lead to industrial action.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) says many teachers who have completed the required promotion processes are still waiting to be formally placed in their new positions and paid the benefits attached to their higher ranks.

The union said the delays had caused financial difficulties, uncertainty and frustration among affected teachers who continue to perform duties associated with their new positions without receiving the corresponding benefits.

GNAT's national executive raised the concerns at a meeting in Accra on August 7.

It wants the Ghana Education Service (GES) to complete all outstanding promotion placements by August 31, in line with a commitment made by the service in a statement issued on July 28.

The union has also called for changes to the way the Directors I and Directors II ranks are administered.

It says the ranks should no longer be tied to the positions of District and Regional Directors, arguing that the current arrangement has limited opportunities for career progression and contributed to stagnation within the teaching service.

GNAT is calling on the GES, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Public Services Commission to speed up the process of placing affected teachers, in accordance with a directive from President John Mahama.

The union has also expressed concern over delays in renewing its collective agreement, which sets out teachers' terms and conditions of service. The previous agreement expired on July 31 2026.

GNAT says it expects the outstanding issues to be resolved by September 7 and has warned that failure to meet its demands could result in industrial action.