The Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has agreed to suspend its strike following an agreement with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G) to address concerns raised by the union.
The decision followed a meeting between GTEC, VCTU-G and TUTAG to deliberate on the strike and find an amicable resolution to the issues underlying the industrial action.
“This agreement provides a pathway to resolving TUTAG’s concerns, including outstanding post-retirement payments, promotion requirements and the classification of academic librarians, while ensuring continued dialogue and uninterrupted teaching and learning in the technical universities.”
Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG)
The concerns include unpaid salaries for staff engaged on post-retirement contracts, changes in promotion requirements for Assistant Lecturers and the classification of library staff as academic staff.
TUTAG had raised three main concerns, arguing that the issues required attention to ensure fairness in staff conditions and the smooth running of academic activities at the technical universities.
Resolution of Outstanding Post-Retirement Payments
Under the agreement, GTEC will facilitate a meeting involving the affected parties, the Minister for Finance and VCTU-G to resolve outstanding payments owed to staff employed on post-retirement contracts.
The parties have set November 14, 2026, as the deadline for resolving the payments, according to the communique issued after the meeting.
The communique noted that the affected staff at the technical universities had not received their payments for the past two years, despite having their appointments approved by GTEC and reporting for duty.
The agreement is expected to provide a platform for the relevant stakeholders to address the outstanding financial obligations and determine the way forward for the affected employees.
The resolution of the payment issue remains one of the key commitments arising from the discussions, with GTEC expected to facilitate the process before the agreed deadline.
Concession on Amended Scheme of Service
On the amended Scheme of Service, GTEC agreed to grant a concession to affected staff who held the rank of Assistant Lecturer or Assistant Research Fellow. The concession covers staff who had qualified under the universities’ promotion criteria before the July 31, 2025, directive introducing a PhD requirement for progression to the rank of Lecturer.
TUTAG had objected to the directive, arguing that it amounted to a unilateral variation of an amendment to the Scheme of Service for staff of the technical universities dated October 8, 2021.
The concession is intended to address the concerns of affected staff whose eligibility for promotion arose under the earlier criteria.
The agreement provides a basis for resolving the disagreement over the revised requirements while recognising the circumstances of staff who qualified before the directive took effect.
GTEC Addresses Classification of Library Staff
On the classification of library staff, GTEC indicated that it was not opposed in principle to TUTAG’s position that academic librarians should be classified as academic staff.
The parties agreed that the National President of the University Librarians Association should submit a technical paper for consideration and implementation.
The submission is expected to provide the technical basis for further consideration of the proposed classification and the steps required to implement any agreed changes.
The issue will therefore proceed through a formal submission by the librarians’ association, following GTEC’s indication that it was not opposed to the proposal in principle.
TUTAG to Consult Members Before Suspending Strike
Following the agreements, TUTAG is expected to consult its general membership and immediately suspend the strike while efforts continue to address the outstanding concerns. The union’s decision follows commitments covering the post-retirement payments, promotion requirements and the classification of academic librarians.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration, with the stated aim of maintaining industrial harmony and ensuring uninterrupted teaching and learning in the technical universities.
Attention now turns to implementing the commitments reached at the meeting. GTEC is expected to facilitate discussions with the Minister for Finance and VCTU-G to resolve the post-retirement payments by November 14, 2026, while the librarians’ association prepares its technical paper. TUTAG will also consult its membership before suspending the strike, as the parties work towards resolving the outstanding issues and restoring uninterrupted academic activities across the technical universities.
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