The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is set to open its 7th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference on Monday, 5 January 2026, in Accra, with President John Dramani Mahama expected to officiate at the opening ceremony.
The gathering, which also doubles as GNAT’s 54th National Delegates Conference, will bring together teacher representatives from across the country to review the state of education in Ghana and chart a path for the future of the profession and teacher unionism.
Held under the theme “Education and Development: The GES @ 50 – Reflecting, Reviewing, Revising and Growing the Profession and the Unions,” the conference coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Education Service (GES), providing a platform for reflection on five decades of public education delivery and reform.
President Mahama’s participation is seen by GNAT as a signal of government’s recognition of the central role teachers play in national development. Education analysts say the conference comes at a critical moment, as Ghana’s education sector continues to undergo reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes, teacher welfare and institutional efficiency.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, will serve as Special Guest of Honour, while respected economist and statesman Opanin Kwame Pianim is chairing the conference. The keynote address is expected to be delivered by Prof George K. T. Oduro, Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Education, who is anticipated to outline policy priorities and the future direction of education delivery in Ghana.
GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas T. Musah, will lead the administrative and policy sessions, during which delegates are expected to deliberate on a range of issues affecting teachers and the broader education system.
According to the organisers, discussions will focus on teacher welfare, education policy reforms, professional development, and strategies for strengthening teacher unions in a rapidly changing educational environment. Delegates are also expected to assess the impact of past reforms and propose measures to improve conditions of service for teachers.
The conference is taking place at the Ohene Konadu Auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), and runs from 30 December 2025 to 8 January 2026, with daily sessions beginning at 9:00 a.m.
GNAT officials say resolutions adopted at the conference will guide the union’s engagement with government and other stakeholders over the next four years, particularly on issues relating to salaries, working conditions and professional standards.
The association has consistently argued that investing in teachers is essential to improving educational outcomes and supporting Ghana’s long-term development goals. As the GES marks its golden jubilee, GNAT says the conference provides an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements, but also to address persistent challenges facing the sector.
Thousands of teachers are expected to follow proceedings closely, as outcomes from the conference are likely to shape policy advocacy and labour relations within the education sector in the years ahead.