# Teacher salary and promotion disputes in West Africa > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/teacher-salary-and-promotion-disputes-in-west-africa > Updated: 2026-09-22T15:36:28.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 4. In Ghana, the Ghana Education Service (GES) issued a directive to newly promoted teachers, instructing them to ignore requests for application letters or additional documentation to facilitate salary adjustments. The GES clarified that teachers are automatically placed on the appropriate salary scale for their new ranks, an existing practice. This clarification was issued following reports that certain districts were requesting documents from teachers to process these changes. Concurrently, teacher unions in both Ghana and Sierra Leone have raised demands regarding compensation. In Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) has requested government discussions to review salaries and working conditions, noting that teachers earn less than the equivalent of US$100 per month. In Ghana, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) issued a joint demand for the GES and the Ministry of Education to maintain the standard practice of automatic salary grade adjustments for promoted staff. The unions warned that any attempt to change this system without stakeholder consultation would be “fiercely resisted.” Following these tensions, major Ghanaian teacher unions suspended a planned nationwide strike after negotiations with the Ministry of Education. The government committed to placing approximately 80,000 teachers on their correct salary scales, with the GES providing data to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to complete placements and payments by September. To streamline the process, teachers will no longer be required to travel to district or regional offices to submit physical payslips for these adjustments. However, tensions have resurfaced as the September deadline approached. The GNAT, NAGRAT, and the Concerned Teachers Coalition (CCT) have issued a deadline of midday on Thursday, September 24, 2026, for the government to resolve disputes regarding promotions and unpaid salary arrears. ## Claims - Major teacher unions in Ghana have suspended their planned nationwide strike. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Approximately 80,000 teachers will be placed on the correct salary scales. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Teachers are no longer required to travel to district education offices to submit payslips for salary-scale placement. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Ghana Education Service will provide necessary data to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to facilitate salary adjustments. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Three major Ghanaian teacher unions issued a joint statement demanding automatic salary adjustments for newly promoted teachers. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Ghanaian teacher unions warned they would resist any attempts to change the automatic salary placement practice without consultation. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The government directed the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to complete teacher placements by September. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Teachers in Sierra Leone earn less than the equivalent of US$100 per month. (single source) - The SLTU has formally requested discussions with the Sierra Leonean government regarding teacher salaries and service conditions. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-22: Ghana teacher unions threaten industrial action over promotion arrears Ghanaian teacher unions have set a September 24 deadline for the government to resolve unpaid promotion arrears and salary placement issues, threatening industrial action if demands are not met. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-teacher-unions-threaten-industrial-action-over-promotion-arrears ### 2026-08-31: Ghana teacher unions suspend nationwide strike over salary disputes Ghanaian teacher unions have suspended a nationwide strike after the government agreed to place approximately 80,000 teachers on correct salary scales by September and streamlined administrative processes. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-teacher-unions-suspend-nationwide-strike-over-salary-disputes ### 2026-08-26: Teacher unions in Sierra Leone and Ghana demand salary reviews Teacher unions in Sierra Leone and Ghana are demanding salary improvements and automatic pay adjustments for promotions to address wage disparities and professional recognition. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/teacher-unions-in-sierra-leone-and-ghana-demand-salary-reviews ### 2026-08-22: Ghana Education Service clarifies salary adjustment process for promoted teachers The Ghana Education Service has told newly promoted teachers to ignore requests for documents to adjust salaries, stating that salary scale updates occur automatically following promotion. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-education-service-clarifies-salary-adjustment-process-for-promoted-teachers --- Cite as: Teacher salary and promotion disputes in West Africa. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/teacher-salary-and-promotion-disputes-in-west-africa