Teacher Predicts 8-Step Cycle to End Ghana’s Pre-Tertiary Strike

A Ghanaian teacher has outlined what he describes as an eight-step cycle through which the ongoing nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions could eventually be resolved, warning that the pattern could repeat itself unless government and the unions reach a firm agreement.

The three major pre-tertiary teacher unions — the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) — declared an indefinite nationwide strike on Friday, September 25, 2026, following unresolved concerns over their conditions of service.

In a statement written on Sunday, September 27, teacher Seth Afum A. Dankwah of J. G. Knol Technical Institute, Adukrom-Akuapem in the Eastern Region, presented what he called the “Pojoba Prediction” — a projected sequence of events based on what he believes has become a familiar pattern in teachers’ industrial actions.

According to him, the cycle begins when the government refers the matter to the National Labour Commission (NLC) and ends with teachers reluctantly returning to the classroom.

The eight-step prediction

The first step, he predicts, will be the government, through the Ministry of Education, dragging the teacher unions before the NLC.

The second will involve the NLC attempting to persuade the unions to call off the strike and return to negotiations, based on provisions of Ghana’s labour laws.

Mr Dankwah predicts that the unions will initially resist such a directive, arguing that their grievances have remained unresolved despite previous engagements.

The third stage, therefore, will be what he calls “the defiance”, with the unions maintaining pressure because of demands from their members.

He then predicts that the NLC will proceed to the High Court to seek an order declaring the strike illegal and compelling the unions to terminate the industrial action.

The fifth step, according to his prediction, will be the service of the court order on the union leadership.

He expects this to lead to the sixth stage — a press conference by the unions announcing the suspension or termination of the strike to avoid possible contempt proceedings.

The seventh stage, he says, will be anger among teachers at the decision of their union leaders.

He predicts that some teachers could accuse their leaders of having been compromised or “bought” by government, although he acknowledges that such allegations have historically been made without evidence.

The final stage, according to Mr Dankwah, will be teachers returning to the classroom despite their disappointment, largely because of their responsibility to their students.

His prediction comes ahead of a scheduled meeting on Monday, September 28, between Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and the leadership of GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG.

The meeting is expected to focus on three major concerns raised by the unions.

These include the delayed renewal of the Collective Agreement, which has expired; the non-implementation of placement and payment of arrears for teachers promoted in 2025; and the unfulfilled 20 per cent Deprived Area Allowance.

Mr Dankwah argues that the grievances raised by the teachers are legitimate and that the current strike should therefore be viewed within the broader context of unresolved industrial relations issues.

He believes, however, that the predicted sequence can be stopped before the matter reaches the NLC or the courts.

According to him, the September 28 meeting provides an opportunity for the government and the unions to resolve the dispute directly.

He proposes two concrete commitments from government: a signed and time-bound memorandum stating when the 2025 promotion arrears will be processed and paid, and a definite date for the signing of a new Collective Agreement that addresses the Deprived Area Allowance.

“If these commitments are secured, Mr Dankwah argues, there would be no need for the dispute to proceed to the NLC, the courts or another press conference to suspend the strike.

He insists that teachers are not inherently opposed to industrial action, but resort to strikes when they believe other avenues have failed to produce results.

“Ghanaian teachers do not love strikes. They lose more money than they gain. They simply have no other language that government understands,” he wrote.

Mr Dankwah further warned that if Monday’s meeting fails to meet the expectations of the teacher unions, the sequence he outlined could begin unfolding.

He described the prediction as a reflection of what he considers a recurring problem in Ghana’s industrial relations system rather than a prophecy.

“If 28th September’s meeting fails to address teachers’ expectations, then Mr Pojoba’s clock, which started ticking at 1:26 PM on Sunday, 27th September, will continue to tick exactly as he predicted,” he stated.

The statement was signed by Seth Afum A. Dankwah of J. G. Knol Technical Institute, Adukrom-Akuapem in the Eastern Region.