Striking teachers have refused to call off their nationwide strike after meeting Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, demanding documented commitments on arrears and allowances.

Leaders of the pre-tertiary teacher unions, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) met the Minister and his deputy, Clement Apaak, in Accra. The teachers are demanding payment of promotion arrears and an end to delays in negotiations over their conditions of service.

Mr. Iddrisu assured them of President John Mahama's commitment to meet their demands and asked them to end the strike while negotiations continue. He said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission will meet them next Tuesday on their collective agreement and conditions of service.

He added that a validation committee, chaired by the Minister of Employment and Labour, has been set up to validate data on the 20 percent rural deprived allowance. "The government of John Mahama remains committed to rolling out the rural deprived allowance effective January 2027 subject to the validation of the data and a defined roadmap," he said.

The unions were not persuaded. "It has been the old story of promises upon promises," GNAT told the media after the meeting. "We are not taking promises. We want action. Our teachers must continue to stay home until we see something concrete."

Vice President of the Pre-Tertiary Education Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), Adokwei Ayikwei Awulley, questioned what evidence exists for the January 2027 pledge. "What is on paper to show that they will start paying the deprived area allowance by 2027?" he asked.

He said negotiations have made no headway. The current collective agreement has expired, allowances due in September remain unsettled, and no timeline exists for concluding talks, he added.

Mr. Awulley said the unions will wait for Tuesday's meeting, where the Government has promised to present timelines. "If we accept it, so be it," he said, suggesting a conclusion by mid or late October could be acceptable.

He stressed that a verbal pledge is not enough. "It is not just by word of mouth. It is something that we have to see, something concrete."

The teachers say they will stay home until the arrears and salary adjustments show on their payslips and in their accounts.