The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has called on the government to urgently address the concerns raised by university unions currently on strike.
Several unions, including the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), and the Federation of Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), have withdrawn their services due to unresolved issues.
The strike, which commenced on Monday, September 16, 2024, stems from the government’s failure to implement key allowances.
Specifically, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has yet to enforce vehicle maintenance and off-campus allowances, despite receiving approval from the Ministry of Finance in August 2024. The unions have expressed frustration over the delay, prompting industrial action.
Additionally, the Technical University Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) announced a nationwide strike on Friday, September 27, 2024.
They have threatened to withdraw all services until their grievances are addressed, adding to the mounting pressure on the government to meet its obligations.
TUSAAG’s strike is rooted in the government’s failure to uphold its commitments under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The unions are also demanding the implementation of revised allowances for senior staff members in public universities, which has remained unresolved despite ongoing discussions.
In response to the growing unrest, Dr. Mamudu Akudugu, the National President of UTAG, urged the government to take swift action to resolve the issues.
Speaking in an interview on Citi FM on Friday, September 27, he stressed the need for a timely resolution to ensure that educators can return to work.
Dr. Akudugu emphasised the critical role of university staff in the education sector, noting that the continuation of the strike will significantly disrupt academic activities.
He urged all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to prevent further harm to Ghana’s higher education system.
“It is a bad situation because COVID-19 somehow disrupted the academic calendar and we had to work so hard to readjust.”
“…I would appeal to the government to at least find ways of resolving whatever the issues are so that our colleagues can be assured and then come back to continue their work,” he stated.
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