The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Universities Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has set a deadline of June 30, 2026, for the government to resolve various outstanding conditions of service and welfare issues impacting academic staff in the public universities across the nation.
This resolution was made during UTAG’s regular quarterly meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, where the Council assessed matters related to member welfare, governance of the association, and the overall condition of higher education in Ghana.
UTAG has expressed that the ongoing delays in addressing these issues are intolerable and pose a threat to the trust in the collective bargaining process between the government and organized labor.
Among the significant concerns raised is the government’s failure to sign the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, despite the conclusion of negotiations and consensus among all parties involved. This agreement aims to provide temporary relief prior to a comprehensive salary review by the Independent Emoluments Commission (IEC), which is anticipated to be implemented in January 2027.
UTAG also pointed out ongoing difficulties regarding post-retirement contract renewals and the rollover arrangements for academic staff. The association emphasized that delays in the approval, regularization, and placement of affected personnel on the payroll by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD), and the Ministry of Finance are disrupting staffing levels and hindering the effective functioning of universities.
Furthermore, the association indicated that the government’s share of the Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians remains unpaid. It also mentioned that salary arrears owed to certain staff at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), along with promotion arrears in various public universities, have yet to be resolved.
UTAG has expressed concerns regarding the unpaid institutional components of the OTSA for the staff of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), in addition to the delays in the processing and payment of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
The association urges the government to promptly sign and implement the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, address all issues related to post-retirement contracts and rollovers, and clear all outstanding allowances and arrears for the affected institutions.
Specifically, UTAG is insisting on the payment of the government portion of OTSA for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians, the facilitation of the UESD OTSA institutional component, the settlement of promotion arrears, the resolution of salary arrears for affected UniMAC staff, and the swift processing of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
UTAG has issued a warning that if these outstanding matters are not addressed by the deadline of June 30, 2026, all branches will commence consultations within five working days to seek mandates from members regarding potential industrial action, in accordance with the UTAG Constitution and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
The association emphasized that the ongoing delays contradict the principles of good-faith collective bargaining and the previous commitments made by the government to organized labor.
Despite the ultimatum, UTAG has reiterated its dedication to constructive engagement, dialogue, and negotiation.
However, it has also warned that a continued failure to fulfill agreed-upon terms could undermine trust in the collective bargaining process and jeopardize industrial harmony within Ghana’s public university system.
Consequently, UTAG has urged the government to exhibit good faith by addressing all outstanding obligations without further delay.
