The Universities Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has set a deadline of June 30, 2026, for the government to resolve several outstanding issues impacting lecturers and other academic personnel in public universities. They have cautioned that inaction may lead to industrial action.
The decision was arrived at during the quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of UTAG, which took place on June 18.
The meeting was held at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho.
During the meeting, members examined issues pertaining to staff welfare, the administration of the association, and the wider challenges facing Ghana’s higher education sector.
UTAG expressed growing concern regarding the sluggish implementation of agreements made with the government. According to the association, the delays pose a significant risk to the integrity of the collective bargaining process, potentially eroding trust among the parties involved.
One of UTAG’s primary concerns is the government’s lack of action regarding the signing of the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement. The association observed that the negotiations regarding the agreement have been finalized, with all parties arriving at a consensus.
The temporary salary adjustment aims to alleviate financial pressures for university staff as they anticipate a thorough salary review by the Independent Emoluments Commission (IEC), set to be implemented in January 2027.
UTAG has raised concerns regarding the delays in the approval process for post-retirement contract renewals and rollover arrangements for academic staff.
Slow approvals and payroll processing by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD), and the Ministry of Finance are resulting in staffing challenges across public universities, as noted by the association.
The association has disclosed that the government’s portion of the Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) designated for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians is still outstanding.
It highlighted significant salary arrears impacting certain staff members at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), along with unpaid promotion arrears across various public universities.
UTAG has expressed further concerns regarding the outstanding institutional OTSA benefits for the staff at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), as well as the delays in the processing of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
The association is calling for prompt action from the government, which includes the signing and implementation of the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, the payment of all outstanding allowances and arrears, the resolution of rollover and post-retirement contract issues, and the expedited processing of the Book and Research Allowance.
UTAG has issued a warning that if these issues are not addressed by June 30, branches across the country will initiate consultations within five working days to obtain members’ approval for potential industrial action, adhering to the UTAG Constitution and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
Despite issuing the ultimatum, the association stated its ongoing commitment to dialogue and constructive engagement. It was noted that ongoing delays in meeting established commitments may lead to tensions in industrial relations and potentially undermine stability within Ghana’s public university system.
UTAG has urged the government to take prompt action and fulfill its outstanding commitments to prevent escalating tensions and the potential for a nationwide strike by university lecturers.
