The threat of a nationwide industrial action is looming over Ghana’s public universities as the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has given the government an ultimatum to address long-standing concerns over delayed book and research allowances and stalled negotiations on conditions of service.
UTAG has warned that lecturers across the country’s public universities will withdraw their services from Monday, June 15, if the Ministry of Finance fails to release the dollar exchange rate required for the payment of book and research allowances by the end of this week.
The association says the delay has caused widespread frustration among its members and has become a symbol of what many lecturers perceive as a lack of urgency in addressing their welfare concerns.
Speaking on behalf of the association, UTAG General Secretary, Dr Samuel Seglah expressed disappointment over the Finance Ministry’s inability to release the prevailing dollar rate used in calculating the allowances for senior members of public universities.
According to him, the rates are traditionally released by March each year to allow university authorities sufficient time to process payments.
“The University Teachers Association of Ghana is not happy that, as we speak today, the dollar rates for the processing of our book and research allowance for senior members of public universities have not been released by the Finance Ministry,” Dr. Seglah stated.
Beyond the issue of allowances, UTAG is equally concerned about the slow pace of discussions regarding improved conditions of service for university lecturers. The association says negotiations have effectively stalled due to delays in the operationalisation of the Independent Emoluments Commission.
While interim arrangements are reportedly being discussed with the Salaries Commission, UTAG maintains that no concrete agreement has been concluded or signed, leaving lecturers uncertain about their future remuneration and benefits.
“Our members are not happy about this development,” Dr. Seglah stressed.
The association has therefore given the government, particularly the Ministry of Finance, until Friday to resolve the impasse.
Should the ministry fail to act, UTAG’s national leadership says it has received a clear mandate from members to embark on industrial action.
“We are giving the government, specifically the Finance Ministry, up to Friday. If the rate is not released, then on Monday, the national leadership will convene, and we will make a decision. Our members have given us the mandate to take the appropriate actions, and so we’ll lay down our tools,” Dr. Seglah warned.
The prospect of a nationwide strike has raised concerns among students, parents, and university administrators, as any withdrawal of services by lecturers would significantly disrupt academic activities across public tertiary institutions.
The latest threat highlights growing tensions between organized labour within the education sector and government authorities over welfare and remuneration matters. It also underscores the broader challenge of maintaining industrial harmony within Ghana’s higher education system at a time when universities are striving to enhance teaching, research, and innovation.
With Friday’s deadline fast approaching, attention is now focused on the Ministry of Finance and whether it can take the necessary steps to avert yet another disruption in the country’s academic calendar.
