Accra:The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA)-Ghana has expressed approval of the decision by teacher unions to end their strike, urging all involved parties to adhere to the agreed timelines to resolve outstanding issues.
According to Ghana News Agency, the strike was officially called off after a communiqué was signed on October 9, 2026, involving the government, represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), alongside teacher unions such as the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG).
In a press release dated October 10, signed by Mr. Gapson Kofi Raphael, the General Secretary of NCPTA-Ghana, the Council expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and other key stakeholders for their involvement in resolving the dispute. The Council also praised the unions' leadership and members for returning to negotiations and agreeing to resume educational activities.
The agreement outlines specific deadlines for addressing various concerns, such as the payment of salary arrears to 51,000 teachers by October 16, 2026, with subsequent payments expected by the end of October. The Deprived Area Allowance is set to be addressed in January 2027, while the Digital Support Allowance and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Allowance are scheduled for November and December 2026, respectively.
The NCPTA urged the FWSC, GES, and teacher unions to actively work towards meeting these deadlines, particularly concerning the expired Collective Agreement and the 20 per cent Deprived Area Allowance. The Council emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue and accountability to ensure commitments made during negotiations are upheld.
The reopening of schools is anticipated to benefit students, parents, businesses, and the broader economy. The prolonged school closures had placed additional burdens on parents, who had to manage their children's supervision while fulfilling work responsibilities, and had disrupted school-related businesses.
The return to school is expected to restore learning routines, enhance preparations for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and ensure continuity of government education programs. The Council encouraged parents and guardians to prepare their children for the resumption of classes and called on school-based PTA executives to work with school management to recover lost instructional hours.
Schools are scheduled to resume academic activities on Monday, October 12, 2026. The strike, initiated by the three teacher unions on September 25, 2026, demanded the payment of salary arrears for promoted teachers who had not received their due salaries, the 20 per cent Deprived Area Allowance, and the renewal of their Collective Agreement.