Technical University Vice-Chancellors appeal to TUTAG to call off strike

The leaders of Ghana's Technical Universities have pleaded with the Technical Universities Teachers Association (TUTAG) to halt their ongoing strike. The Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities (VCTU-G) warn that the industrial action is risking further disruption to academic calendars and negatively impacting students. The strike, which began on October 1, 2026, has halted teaching and learning at technical universities across the nation, prompting concerns about the timely completion of the academic year.

Addressing the union's concerns, the VCTU-G acknowledges the issues driving the strike but urges TUTAG to prioritize students' welfare during ongoing negotiations. In a meeting with TUTAG's leadership on Thursday, October 22, the vice-chancellors requested a suspension of the strike to allow constructive dialogue and address outstanding grievances. The VCTU-G emphasizes the importance of safeguarding students' interests while resolving the dispute through proper institutional and administrative channels.

The vice-chancellors caution that another disruption could set back progress made by technical universities in restoring academic schedules following COVID-19-related interruptions. They note that the Technical Universities have made significant efforts to restore and stabilize their academic calendars, and another interruption could create long-term challenges for students and university management.

VCTU-G stresses that addressing staff concerns through established labour relations must be balanced with protecting students' interests and ensuring the continuity of academic activities. The vice-chancellors also call on the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to facilitate a swift resolution of the dispute through constructive engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

They express their readiness for renewed engagement among all parties and hope for a timely, mutually acceptable, and sustainable resolution that allows teaching and learning to resume promptly in technical universities.