GTEC criticizes UG senior staff strike despite ongoing negotiations

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has expressed disappointment over the ongoing strike by the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), despite multiple negotiations aimed at resolving their concerns.

Background of the strike

The strike, which began on May 21, 2025, was declared by SSA-UoG in collaboration with the Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG) and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG). The unions are demanding the implementation of an agreement reached with the government six months ago regarding their conditions of service.

Despite several engagements, including a meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on May 19, 2025, where assurances were given to resolve the matter, the unions proceeded with their industrial action.

GTEC’s response

In a statement issued on May 22, 2025, GTEC described the strike as premature and taken in bad faith, noting that the National Labour Commission (NLC) had scheduled a hearing on the matter for May 21, 2025, and further discussions were planned for May 23, 2025.

GTEC emphasized that the Education Minister had met with SSA-UoG in April, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed. The Commission expressed surprise that the unions decided to embark on a strike despite these ongoing efforts.

The strike is expected to disrupt administrative activities and academic work in public universities across Ghana. University management teams are working to mitigate the effects, but students and faculty members may experience delays in essential services.

Next steps

While the unions insist that the government has failed to honor its commitments, leading to their decision to embark on an indefinite strike, GTEC has urged them to reconsider their stance and return to negotiations.

As discussions continue, stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the government and the unions can reach a resolution that satisfies all parties involved