University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have given the government until June 30, 2026, to resolve outstanding conditions of service and welfare issues for lecturers, warning that failure to do so could lead to a nationwide strike.
The Association warned that failure to address salary adjustments, unpaid allowances, and promotion arrears could lead to nationwide industrial action. The potential strike could disrupt academic activities, examinations, and research across Ghana’s public universities.
“Unresolved salary adjustments, unpaid allowances, and promotion arrears continue to threaten industrial harmony across Ghana’s public universities.”
University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)
UTAG’s National Executive Council (NEC) issued the ultimatum due to delays in implementing negotiated agreements despite months of discussions with government representatives.
UTAG warned that unresolved issues by the end of June will lead to nationwide branch consultations within five working days to seek approval for industrial action in accordance with its Constitution and Ghana’s Labour Act.
NEC Reviews Outstanding Welfare Issues
The decision was reached during UTAG’s statutory quarterly NEC meeting held on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho.
During the meeting, the Council reviewed issues relating to members’ welfare, the governance of the Association and broader developments within Ghana’s higher education sector before concluding that government had failed to fulfil several commitments made under ongoing negotiations.
“The continuing delays are unacceptable and risk further undermining confidence in the collective bargaining process” .
University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)
UTAG maintained that while negotiations had yielded agreements on several matters, implementation had stalled, leaving university teachers increasingly frustrated over unmet obligations.
Interim Salary Adjustment Yet to Be Signed
UTAG says the government’s failure to sign the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, despite the successful conclusion of negotiations, has delayed temporary salary relief for university teachers.
The Association warned that the continued inaction has prolonged uncertainty among lecturers while they await a comprehensive salary review scheduled for January 2027.
Promotion Arrears and Allowances Outstanding
UTAG expressed concern over several unpaid financial obligations, including promotion arrears, outstanding Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) payments, and delayed salary adjustments for lecturers.
The Association stated that Research Fellows, Academic Librarians, and staff of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development have not yet received portions of the OTSA owed to them.
It also criticised delays in the payment of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance, warning that these delays are negatively affecting research activities and productivity in public universities.
Staff Regularisation Challenges Persist
Another issue raised by UTAG concerns the regularisation and placement of academic staff following the reversal of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s directive on post-retirement contract renewals and academic staff rollover.
The Association explained that prolonged delays involving the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) and the Ministry of Finance have left several affected staff without proper placement on government payroll.
UTAG warned that the situation continues to affect staffing levels and the smooth operation of public universities.
According to the Association, resolving these administrative bottlenecks has become essential to ensuring stability within the tertiary education sector.
Government Urged to Act Immediately
To avert the strike, UTAG outlined a number of actions it expects government to undertake before the June 30 deadline.
These include signing and implementing the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, resolving all post-retirement contract and rollover issues, paying outstanding OTSA components due Research Fellows, Academic Librarians and UESD staff.
Others include settling promotion arrears, clearing salary arrears owed to staff of the Institute of Languages and the Institute of Film and Television at UniMAC, and expediting payment of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
The Association maintained that fulfilling these commitments would demonstrate government’s commitment to honouring agreements reached through collective bargaining.
Warning of Possible Industrial Action
Although UTAG reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and negotiations, it stressed that continued failure to implement negotiated agreements threatens industrial peace within Ghana’s public universities.
“While reaffirming its unwavering commitment to dialogue, negotiation and constructive engagement, UTAG emphasised that the persistent failure to honour duly negotiated agreements undermines confidence in the collective bargaining process and threatens industrial harmony within Ghana’s public universities”.
University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)
The Association therefore urged government to demonstrate good faith by fulfilling all outstanding commitments without further delay. Should the issues remain unresolved after June 30, UTAG indicated that branches nationwide would begin consultations within five working days to obtain members’ approval for industrial action.
Implications for Higher Education
The warning adds to growing concerns over labour relations within Ghana’s education sector, where teacher unions and professional associations have repeatedly called for the timely implementation of negotiated conditions of service.
A strike by university lecturers could significantly disrupt academic calendars, research activities and examinations across public universities, affecting thousands of students and staff.
For now, attention shifts to government, which has less than two weeks to address the outstanding concerns and prevent what could become another major disruption to Ghana’s tertiary education system.
The statement jointly signed by UTAG National President, Prof. Vera O. Fiador, and National Secretary, Dr. Samuel Kingsford Seglah, called on the government to honour all commitments made to university teachers in the interest of sustaining industrial harmony and safeguarding the quality of higher education in Ghana.
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