Mahama to open GNAT’s 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is set to officially open its 7th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference in Accra, marking a major gathering of education stakeholders as teachers across the country reflect on the future of the profession and organized labour within the education sector.

The opening ceremony, scheduled for Monday, January 5, 2026, is expected to be performed by President John Dramani Mahama, highlighting the importance the government attaches to education and the pivotal role teachers play in national development.

The conference also doubles as GNAT’s 54th National Delegates Conference and is being held under the theme “Education and Development: The GES @ 50 – Reflecting, Reviewing, Revising and Growing the Profession and the Unions.” The theme aligns the discussions with the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Education Service (GES), providing an opportunity for stakeholders to assess progress made over the decades and identify areas that require reform.

Teacher representatives from all regions of the country are attending the conference to deliberate on issues affecting education delivery, teacher welfare, and the future direction of the union. The gathering is expected to shape GNAT’s policy positions and advocacy strategies at a time when Ghana’s education sector is undergoing reforms and institutional reviews.

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, is attending the conference as Special Guest of Honour, while respected statesman Opanin Kwame Pianim is chairing proceedings. The keynote address is being delivered by Prof. George K.T. Oduro, Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Education, who is expected to speak on policy, institutional development, and the evolving demands on the teaching profession.

Administrative and policy sessions are being coordinated under the leadership of GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas T. Musah, with discussions focusing on strengthening union structures and improving professional standards.

The conference is taking place at the Ohene Konadu Auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), and runs from December 30, 2025, to January 8, 2026, with daily sessions beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Throughout the conference period, delegates are expected to review GNAT’s performance over the past four years, examine emerging challenges in education delivery, and adopt resolutions on key matters including teacher welfare, education policy reforms, and strategies to enhance professionalism within the sector.

The outcomes of the conference are anticipated to influence national conversations on education and contribute to shaping policies that support teachers as central actors in Ghana’s development agenda.