The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has distanced itself from reports suggesting that salaries of teachers participating in the ongoing industrial action would be deducted for each day they remain away from work, as negotiations over the FWSC teachers strike continue.
In a statement signed by Head of Public Affairs Emelia Ennin, the Commission said comments attributed to its Chief Executive, Dr George Smith Graham, did not come from him and should not be treated as the position of the FWSC.
The disputed report had suggested that workers involved in an illegal strike would lose pay for the period they stayed away from work.
“The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission wishes to state that our Chief Executive did not make the comments attributed to him in the said media report,” the Commission said.
It asked the public and media organisations to disregard the claim and any conclusions drawn from it, particularly in relation to the nationwide strike by the three pre tertiary teacher unions.
FWSC Says Focus Remains on Negotiations
The Commission said its immediate priority is negotiations with the Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers and the Pre Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana over outstanding concerns relating to their collective agreement and conditions of service.
FWSC met leaders of the three unions on Tuesday, October 6, as part of efforts to resolve the dispute.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Smith Graham and attended by GNAT General Secretary Thomas Musah, NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba and PRETAG President King Awudu Ali, together with other union executives.
According to the Commission, both sides discussed the outstanding demands presented by the unions, although no final agreement was announced after the meeting.
Dr Smith Graham said negotiations would reconvene after the Commission completes further consultations with relevant stakeholders.
That process is expected to allow FWSC to assess the demands and determine what can be accommodated before formal talks resume.
He also commended the union leadership for the peaceful manner in which the engagement was conducted.
Talks Follow September 28 Nationwide Strike
The current negotiations began after the three teacher unions embarked on a nationwide strike on September 28, 2026.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu subsequently held an emergency meeting with the unions on the same day as government sought to open a path towards resolving the impasse.
Following that engagement, the Minister indicated that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission would lead the next stage of negotiations on behalf of government.
The strike has placed renewed attention on outstanding conditions of service for pre tertiary teachers and the ability of government and labour representatives to reach a settlement through collective bargaining.
FWSC said the October 6 meeting formed part of the formal process for dealing with those unresolved matters rather than discussions about salary sanctions.
Commission Calls for Verified Information
The Commission said the controversy over the reported salary deductions risked creating a misleading impression about its position while negotiations were still underway.
It therefore urged the public and media to rely on verified statements from FWSC and other relevant authorities when reporting developments around the strike.
“The Commission acknowledges the importance of the concerns raised by the unions and believes that continued dialogue and good faith negotiations remain critical to resolving the issues,” the statement said.
FWSC reiterated that it remains committed to finding what it described as a mutually acceptable and sustainable resolution with the teacher unions.
The Commission said its broader responsibility remained ensuring fair and sustainable compensation across the public service while maintaining stable industrial relations.
For now, negotiations remain unfinished. The next round of talks is expected after FWSC completes consultations on the demands submitted by the unions.
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