The Universities Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has given the government until June 30, 2026, to resolve a number of outstanding salary, allowance and welfare-related issues affecting lecturers and other academic staff in public universities, warning that failure to do so could trigger industrial action.
The decision was reached at UTAG’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on June 18 at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, where members reviewed staff welfare concerns, internal association matters and broader challenges confronting Ghana’s higher education sector.
In a statement issued after the meeting, UTAG expressed concern over what it described as the slow implementation of agreements reached with the government. According to the association, the delays threaten the credibility of the collective bargaining process and could weaken trust between stakeholders.
Among the key concerns raised was the government’s failure to sign the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, despite negotiations having been concluded and consensus reportedly reached by all parties. UTAG explained that the temporary salary adjustment is intended to ease financial pressures on university staff ahead of a comprehensive salary review by the Independent Emoluments Commission (IEC), expected to take effect in January 2027.
The association also highlighted delays in the approval of post-retirement contract renewals and rollover arrangements for academic staff. It said slow processing by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD), and the Ministry of Finance is creating staffing difficulties across public universities.
UTAG further noted that the government’s share of the Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians remains unpaid. It also cited outstanding salary arrears affecting some staff at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), unpaid promotion arrears across several public universities, and unresolved institutional OTSA benefits for staff of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD).
The association additionally expressed concern over delays in the processing of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
To avert further tensions, UTAG is demanding the immediate signing and implementation of the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, payment of all outstanding allowances and arrears, resolution of rollover and post-retirement contract issues, and the prompt processing of the Book and Research Allowance.
The association warned that should the government fail to address the concerns by June 30, its branches nationwide will begin consultations within five working days to seek members’ approval for possible industrial action in accordance with the UTAG Constitution and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
Despite the ultimatum, UTAG stressed that it remains committed to dialogue and constructive engagement. However, it cautioned that continued delays in fulfilling agreed commitments could strain industrial relations and threaten stability within Ghana’s public university system.
