The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has given the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other relevant government institutions until September 7, 2026, 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 leadership raised concerns 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 — creating uncertainty, financial difficulties, and frustration among affected teachers who had already completed the required promotion processes.
Delayed Promotion Placements
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 GES expedite the process and ensure all outstanding placements are implemented by August 31, 2026 — a date GNAT says is consistent with a commitment contained in a GES press release issued on July 28, 2026.
GNAT wants authorities to ensure that teachers who have earned promotions are formally placed in their new positions and receive the benefits attached to their upgraded ranks, warning that continued delays are undermining morale and creating uncertainty over career progression across the service.
Decoupling Director Ranks
GNAT is also calling for an end to what it describes as an administrative bottleneck involving the Directors I and Directors II ranks. The association wants these ranks decoupled from being coterminous with the positions of District and Regional Directors, arguing that the current arrangement has restricted career advancement opportunities and contributed to stagnation within the GES professional structure.
GNAT is urging the GES, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), and the Public Services Commission (PSC) to expedite this process in line with a directive from the President. The association believes separating professional ranks from specific administrative positions would open up greater opportunities for career progression.
Expired Collective Agreement
Another major concern is the delay in renewing the Collective Agreement governing teachers' terms and conditions of service, which expired on July 31, 2026. GNAT said this expiration has created uncertainty for teachers and is calling for urgent action to negotiate and conclude a new agreement to protect their interests and welfare.
GNAT's Three Key Demands
| # | Demand |
|---|---|
| 1 | Expedite and implement all outstanding promotion placements by August 31, 2026 |
| 2 | Decouple Directors I and Directors II ranks from District and Regional Director positions |
| 3 | Fast-track negotiations and renewal of the expired Collective Agreement |
September 7 Deadline
GNAT has given the relevant authorities until September 7, 2026, to act on these issues, warning that failure to make progress by then could result in industrial action.
The association's National Executive called on all relevant authorities to act expeditiously on the outstanding issues before the deadline in order to avert any strike action.