Ferdinand Ellis Explains: Why Teachers were Excluded from the 1% Conditions of Service Allocation in the 2027 Pay Deal

By Ferdinand Ellis
Education Blogger | Curriculum Specialist | Researcher | Policy Analyst

The announcement of a 9% total remuneration adjustment for Ghana’s public-sector workers in 2027 has generated questions among teachers, particularly about the additional 1% allocated to Conditions of Service (CoS).

A clarification issued by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Volta Region, on October 29, 2026, provides an important explanation. According to the letter, the 1% allocation is intended for public-service sectors that have not yet concluded negotiations on their Conditions of Service. Teachers are excluded because their Conditions of Service negotiations have already been concluded.

But what does this mean, and why would the conclusion of negotiations affect teachers’ eligibility for the allocation?

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The 9% Agreement Has Two Components

The 2027 Public Service Remuneration Agreement provides for a 9% total remuneration adjustment, divided into two components:

• 8% increase in base pay across the board.
• 1-percentage-point allocation to Conditions of Service, intended for eligible public-service sectors under the explanation communicated by GNAT Volta.

The distinction is important. The 1% is not simply another percentage added to every worker’s basic salary. It is a separate allocation associated with Conditions of Service.

For 2028, the agreement provides for a 10% increase in base pay, effective January 1, 2028, calculated on the applicable base pay as at December 31, 2027.

Why Were Teachers Excluded?

According to GNAT Volta’s October 29 letter, the explanation provided by the negotiating parties is that the 1% allocation is intended for public-service sectors whose Conditions of Service negotiations have not yet been concluded.

The letter states that teachers are excluded because their Conditions of Service negotiations have already been concluded.

The apparent reasoning is that the allocation is intended to address outstanding Conditions of Service negotiations rather than to provide a further increase to every public-service group regardless of its negotiation status.

In simple terms, the distinction is based on whether a sector has concluded its Conditions of Service negotiations, not merely on whether its employees receive allowances.

This is the explanation given in the GNAT Volta communication. The letter does not reproduce the full negotiating record or all the implementation rules, so it should not be taken as a complete account of every consideration behind the decision.

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But Teachers Also Have Category 2 and Category 3 Allowances. Why Should They Be Excluded?

This is a reasonable question.

Teachers receive different allowances and benefits under the applicable public-service compensation arrangements. Some are linked to particular duties or working conditions, while others are subject to specific eligibility requirements and negotiated terms.

It may therefore appear logical that, because teachers have Conditions of Service and receive allowances, they should also benefit from an allocation made for Conditions of Service.

However, the existence of allowances and eligibility for a particular allocation are two different matters.

A sector may have negotiated Conditions of Service that include allowances and benefits, yet still fall outside an allocation specifically intended for sectors whose negotiations remain outstanding.

Based on GNAT Volta’s explanation, this is the distinction being made in the 2027 agreement: teachers are excluded because their Conditions of Service negotiations have already been concluded.

It would therefore be inaccurate to conclude that teachers must receive the 1% simply because Category 2 and Category 3 allowances form part of their wider Conditions of Service arrangements.

A Practical Example

Consider two hypothetical public-service groups.

Group A: A sector with outstanding Conditions of Service negotiations

Suppose the sector has not completed negotiations on its Conditions of Service. Under the explanation provided by GNAT Volta, this is the type of sector for which the 1% allocation is intended.

Group B: Teachers, whose negotiations have been concluded

GNAT Volta says teachers fall outside the allocation because their Conditions of Service negotiations have already been concluded.

The distinction, therefore, is not necessarily that one group receives allowances and the other does not. Both may have negotiated allowances and benefits. The distinction identified in the letter is the status of their Conditions of Service negotiations.

The precise way the allocation will be calculated and applied to eligible sectors must still be determined from the relevant implementation arrangements.

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Does This Mean Teachers Will Not Receive the 2027 Pay Increase?

No. The exclusion from the 1% Conditions of Service allocation should not be confused with exclusion from the 2027 base-pay adjustment.

The agreement provides for an 8% across-the-board increase in base pay. GNAT Volta’s letter separately identifies teachers as excluded from the 1% allocation because their Conditions of Service negotiations have already been concluded.

For example, consider a teacher whose current monthly basic salary is GH¢3,000.

An 8% increase would be calculated as follows:

GH¢3,000 × 8% = GH¢240.

The illustrative revised basic salary would be GH¢3,240.

This calculation demonstrates the effect of the 8% base-pay adjustment. It is not a guarantee of the teacher’s final take-home pay, which depends on applicable allowances, taxes, pension contributions and other deductions.

Teachers should therefore distinguish the 8% base-pay adjustment from the separate 1% allocation.

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Does the Exclusion Mean Teachers’ Allowances Can Never Increase?

No. The GNAT Volta letter does not establish that teachers’ allowances can never be reviewed or adjusted.

It addresses the specific 1% allocation under the 2027 remuneration agreement http://moe.gov.ghand gives the conclusion of teachers’ Conditions of Service negotiations as the reason for their exclusion.

Any future adjustment to teachers’ allowances would need to be considered under the applicable agreements, decisions and implementation arrangements.

Teachers should therefore avoid drawing two conclusions that the letter does not support: first, that all their allowances will automatically rise by 1%; and second, that their allowances can never be adjusted again.

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What Should Teachers Ask Their Union?

The clarification also raises legitimate questions that GNAT and the relevant negotiating parties can help answer:

• What specific outstanding Conditions of Service negotiations is the 1% allocation intended to address?
• How will the allocation be distributed among eligible sectors?
• What is the precise implementation method for the allocation?
• Are there any separate provisions affecting teachers’ existing allowances?
• How will the agreed 8% base-pay increase be reflected in teachers’ payroll?

These questions would help members understand the agreement beyond its headline percentage figures.

Ferdinand Ellis’s Conclusion

The key to understanding teachers’ exclusion from the 1% Conditions of Service allocation is the distinction between having Conditions of Service and being eligible for a specific allocation under a remuneration agreement.

GNAT Volta’s October 29, 2026 communication states that the allocation is intended for public-service sectors whose Conditions of Service negotiations have not been concluded. It says teachers are excluded because their negotiations have already been concluded.

That is the explanation the letter provides. It does not mean teachers have no Conditions of Service, nor does it establish that their allowances can never be reviewed. It means the 1% allocation described in the communication is not intended for teachers under the stated eligibility explanation.

For teachers, the immediate task is to understand the 8% base-pay adjustment, seek clarity on any other applicable provisions, and follow official communications from GNAT and the relevant negotiating parties.

By Ferdinand Ellis | Education Blogger | Curriculum Specialist | Researcher | Policy Analyst

About the Author

Ferdinand Ellis is an education blogger, curriculum specialist, researcher and education policy analyst. He is the founder and editor of EducateGhana.com, Ghana’s Education Intelligence Platform, covering education policy, teacher welfare, curriculum implementation, teacher careers and developments across Ghana’s education sector.

EducateGhana.com — Ghana’s Education Intelligence Platform.

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