TUTAG to suspend strike after talks with GTEC, technical university vice-chancellors

The Technical University Teachers' Association of Ghana (TUTAG) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), along with the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G), have reached an agreement that appears poised to put an end to the current strike. This development occurred following a meeting on October 28, 2026, where the parties addressed issues affecting lecturers and academic staff in technical universities.

Following the talks, TUTAG has announced its intention to suspend the strike immediately once its general membership has been consulted.

The dispute stemmed from concerns such as unpaid salaries for staff on post-retirement contracts, a new requirement for a PhD for promotions from Assistant Lecturers to Lecturers, and the recognition of academic librarians as academic staff. In response to these concerns, GTEC pledged to mediate discussions between the Minister for Finance and TUTAG regarding the outstanding payments due to post-retirement staff.

A meeting between the Finance Minister, VCTU-G representatives, and other stakeholders is scheduled to convene by November 14, 2026.

Concerning the contentious PhD requirement, GTEC agreed to exempt from this condition those staff who had already reached the rank of Assistant Lecturer or Assistant Research Fellow and had fulfilled their universities' promotion criteria before July 31, 2025. This means that eligible staff in this category will not be required to obtain a PhD before being promoted to the rank of Lecturer.

Furthermore, on the issue of academic librarians, GTEC has expressed no objection to TUTAG's proposed classification of these professionals as academic staff. A technical paper outlining this proposal is expected to be submitted by the National President of the University Librarians Association for further review and potential implementation.

The parties involved in these negotiations have emphasized their commitment to continuing dialogue and cooperation to resolve outstanding issues and prevent further disruptions to education. They reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining industrial harmony and ensuring the smooth functioning of technical universities throughout Ghana.