UTAG gives gov’t June 30 deadline to clear allowances or…..
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has given government up to June 30, 2026 to settle all its outstanding welfare and conditions-of-service matters with it, or face the consequences.
According to the association, delays in the signing of an interim salary adjustment agreement, unpaid allowances, promotion arrears and staff regularisation challenges were creating anxiety among members and undermining confidence in the collective bargaining process.
“UTAG maintains that the delays are inconsistent with the principles of good-faith collective bargaining and with commitments made by Government to organised labour.
“UTAG warns that if the outstanding matters are not satisfactorily resolved by June 30, 2026, all branches will, within five working days, begin consultations to secure the necessary mandates from members for appropriate industrial action in accordance with the UTAG Constitution and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651),” a statement issued by the National Executive Council (NEC) of UTAG and copied to the Ghanaian Times yesterday stated.
Signed by its President, Professor Vera Fiador, the statement said the government was yet to sign the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement despite the successful conclusion of negotiations and agreement by all parties.
It explained that the interim adjustment was intended to provide temporary relief for university teachers pending a comprehensive salary review by the Independent Emoluments Commission (IEC), which is expected to take effect from January 2027.
UTAG further expressed concern over challenges relating to post-retirement contract renewals and academic staff rollover arrangements following the reversal of a directive by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
It said delays in the approval, regularisation and placement of affected staff on the payroll by GTEC, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) and the Ministry of Finance were adversely affecting staffing and the effective operation of public universities.
The association also pointed to the non-payment of the government component of the Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians, as well as outstanding salary arrears owed to some staff of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC).
Promotion arrears due qualified staff in several public universities, it noted, also remain unpaid, while the university component of the OTSA for staff of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) remains outstanding.
“The processing and payment of the 2026 Book and Research Allowance have been unduly delayed, contrary to established practice,” UTAG added.
The association consequently called on the government to immediately sign and implement the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, resolve all post-retirement contract and rollover challenges, settle all outstanding allowances and arrears, and expedite the payment of the Book and Research Allowance.
While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and constructive engagement, UTAG said the persistent failure to honour duly negotiated agreements threatened industrial harmony within Ghana’s public universities.
“UTAG therefore calls on Government to demonstrate good faith by honouring, without further delay, all commitments made to university teachers,” the statement urged.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
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