The National Executive Council (NEC) of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has given the government until June 30, 2026, to address a number of outstanding conditions of service and welfare concerns affecting academic staff in public universities.
The decision was taken during the association’s statutory quarterly meeting held on June 18, 2026, at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho.
According to UTAG, the continued delay in resolving the issues is unacceptable and threatens confidence in the collective bargaining process between government and organised labour.
Among the major concerns raised by the association is the government’s failure to sign the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, despite negotiations having been concluded and consensus reached by all parties. The agreement is expected to provide temporary relief ahead of a comprehensive salary review by the Independent Emoluments Commission, scheduled to take effect in January 2027.
UTAG also cited challenges relating to post-retirement contract renewals and academic staff rollover arrangements. It said delays in approval, regularisation and placement of affected staff on the payroll by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) and the Ministry of Finance are affecting staffing levels and the smooth running of universities.
The association further noted that the government’s component of the Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians remains unpaid.
It added that salary arrears owed to some staff of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), as well as promotion arrears in several public universities, are yet to be settled.
UTAG also expressed concern over the non-payment of the institutional component of OTSA for staff of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) and delays in the processing and payment of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
The association is demanding that government urgently sign and implement the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, resolve post-retirement contract and rollover challenges, and settle all outstanding allowances and arrears.
Specifically, UTAG is calling for the payment of the government component of OTSA for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians, facilitation of the UESD institutional component of OTSA, payment of promotion arrears, settlement of salary arrears owed affected UniMAC staff and expedited processing of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
UTAG warned that should the issues remain unresolved by June 30, all branches would, within five working days, begin consultations to secure mandates from members for possible industrial action in accordance with the UTAG Constitution and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and constructive engagement, the association cautioned that continued failure to honour agreed terms could erode trust in the collective bargaining process and threaten industrial harmony within Ghana’s public university system.
It therefore urged government to demonstrate good faith by fulfilling all outstanding obligations without further delay.
