The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has given the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other relevant government institutions until September 7, to resolve outstanding concerns over teachers’ promotion placements, career progression and conditions of service, warning that failure to act could trigger industrial action.
The warning follows a meeting of the association’s National Executive on August 7, 2026, at the GNAT Headquarters in Accra, where the leadership expressed concern over what it described as prolonged delays in addressing critical issues affecting teachers within the GES.
According to GNAT, the delays have left a number of teachers performing duties associated with their new ranks without receiving the corresponding financial benefits and official recognition.
The association said the situation has created uncertainty, financial difficulties and frustration among affected teachers, many of whom it said had successfully completed the required processes and had been duly promoted.
A key concern raised by GNAT is the delay in implementing outstanding promotion placements for teachers who have already gone through the necessary procedures.
The association is demanding that the GES expedite the process and ensure that all outstanding placements are implemented by August 31, 2026.
GNAT said this deadline is consistent with a commitment contained in a GES press release issued on July 28, 2026.
The teachers’ association wants the authorities to ensure that those who have earned promotions are formally placed in their new positions and receive the benefits attached to their upgraded ranks.
It said continued delays are not only causing financial difficulties for affected staff but are also undermining morale and creating uncertainty over career progression within the education service.
GNAT is also calling for an end to what it describes as the continued administrative bottleneck involving the Directors I and Directors II ranks.
The association is demanding that these ranks be decoupled from being coterminous with the positions of District and Regional Directors.
According to GNAT, the existing arrangement has restricted opportunities for career advancement and contributed to stagnation within the professional structure of the GES.
It is therefore urging the GES, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Public Services Commission (PSC) to expedite the necessary processes to ensure that affected teachers are appropriately placed.
GNAT said the process should be completed in accordance with a directive from the President of the Republic.
The association believes separating the professional ranks from the specific administrative positions would create greater opportunities for career progression within the education service.
Another major concern raised by GNAT is the delay in renewing the Collective Agreement governing the terms and conditions of service of teachers.
The existing agreement expired on July 31, 2026.
GNAT said the expiration has created uncertainty for teachers and called for urgent action to ensure that a new agreement is negotiated and concluded.
The association expressed disappointment over the delay and urged the government and other relevant stakeholders to fast-track negotiations.
It said renewing the agreement is necessary to protect the interests and welfare of teachers and provide clarity on their conditions of employment.
GNAT has outlined three key actions it wants the authorities to take.
First, it is demanding the expedited processing and implementation of outstanding promotion placements by August 31, 2026, in line with the GES’ July 28 announcement.
Second, it wants the authorities to complete the decoupling of the Directors I and Directors II ranks from the positions of District and Regional Directors.
Third, it is calling for the fast-tracking of negotiations and renewal of the expired Collective Agreement governing teachers’ terms and conditions of service.
The association said these measures are necessary to address the concerns of its members and restore certainty around their career progression and employment conditions.
GNAT has now given the relevant authorities until September 7, 2026, to act on the issues.
The association warned that failure to make progress by the deadline could result in industrial action.
“In the light of the above, the National Executive of GNAT calls on all the relevant authorities to act expeditiously on the aforementioned issues on or before September 7, 2026, to avert any industrial action,” the association stated.
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