The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has served formal notice of its intention to embark on industrial action, citing the government’s failure to honour agreed conditions of service and settle longstanding arrears owed to its members.
In a notice addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission in Accra, dated April 29, 2026, UTAG branches at the University of Ghana (UG), University of Cape Coast (UCC), and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) indicated plans to withdraw all teaching and related services if their concerns are not addressed.
According to the association, the issues leading to the intended strike have already been adjudicated by the Commission, with agreements reached between UTAG and the government.
These agreements were formally communicated in October 2025 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
UTAG noted that, following directives from the Commission, a reminder was sent to the Ministry of Finance in June 2025, urging the implementation of revised Conditions of Service (CoS) for senior members of public universities.
Additionally, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission had earlier written to the Ministry of Finance through the Ministry of Education, requesting that senior members be exempted from the mandatory three-month promotion arrears payment policy.
The association argues that such an exemption is necessary due to the rigorous and lengthy processes involved in academic promotions, which often result in delays and accumulated arrears.
However, UTAG says the government has failed to fulfil its part of the agreement.
It points out that promotion arrears, some dating back to the 2019/2020 academic year, remain unpaid, while the revised Conditions of Service have yet to be implemented.
“These issues continue to impose significant hardship on our members,” the statement noted.
UTAG insists that it has complied fully with the agreed settlement terms but has seen no corresponding action from the government.
As a result, it says the only remaining option is to withdraw teaching and related services until all outstanding matters are resolved.
The association further indicated that it will soon begin the processes required under its constitution to formally declare a strike.
UTAG is demanding a formal letter exempting senior members from the three-month arrears payment policy.
It is also demanding a directive from the Ministry of Finance confirming the implementation of the revised Conditions of Service with retrospective effect, as well as the full payment of all outstanding promotion arrears and entitlements, including those owed to members on study leave with pay since the introduction of the revised conditions.
The potential strike threatens to disrupt academic activities across major public universities if a resolution is not reached in the coming days.
By 1960news.com
