The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has rejected reports claiming that its Chief Executive, Dr George Smith Graham, had announced that teachers participating in the ongoing nationwide strike would have their salaries deducted for every day they remained away from work.
The Commission said Dr Smith Graham did not make the statement attributed to him and urged the public and media organisations to disregard the report and any conclusions based upon it.
According to the Commission, the alleged statement does not represent the position of its Chief Executive and should not be interpreted as the official stance of the institution regarding the industrial action involving the three pre tertiary teacher unions.
The clarification comes as the Commission continues discussions with the unions over outstanding matters contained in their collective agreement and conditions of service.
The FWSC engaged the leadership of the three teacher unions on Tuesday, October 6, as part of renewed efforts to resolve the issues that resulted in the nationwide strike.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Smith Graham and attended by the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, Thomas Musah, the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers, Jacob Anaba, the President of the Pre Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana, King Awudu Ali, and other representatives.
The discussions provided an opportunity for the two sides to examine outstanding demands and explore possible avenues for resolving the dispute.
Dr Smith Graham said the engagement would continue after the Commission had undertaken additional consultations on the demands submitted by the unions and engaged other relevant stakeholders.
He commended the union leadership for the peaceful manner in which the discussions were conducted.
The negotiations form part of government’s response to the industrial action declared by the three unions, which began nationwide on Monday, September 28, 2026. Reports indicate that the initial discussions ended without a final agreement, with the unions maintaining their strike while negotiations continued.
The FWSC became more directly involved after Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu convened an emergency meeting with the teacher unions on September 28 following the commencement of the strike.
The Minister subsequently indicated that the FWSC would lead the next phase of formal negotiations on behalf of government.
The Commission has reiterated its commitment to constructive dialogue with the unions and other stakeholders in an effort to achieve a sustainable settlement.
It has also encouraged the public and media to rely on verified information from the Commission and other competent authorities rather than unconfirmed reports.
The FWSC maintained that transparent and sustainable compensation arrangements, together with constructive industrial relations, remain essential to the effective functioning of Ghana’s public service.
