UTAG has given government until June 30, 2026 to sign an interim salary adjustment agreement and clear outstanding allowances and arrears, warning branches may begin steps toward industrial action.
The decision was taken at UTAG’s statutory quarterly meeting held at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, where the Council assessed member welfare matters, internal governance issues and the broader state of higher education.
UTAG said the continued delays in addressing the concerns are “unacceptable” and could weaken confidence in the collective bargaining process between government and organised labour.
The association warned that failure to act within the stated timeline risks heightening tension across the public university system, where staff say unresolved commitments are beginning to disrupt teaching, research and administrative continuity.
Interim salary adjustment agreement remains unsigned
At the centre of UTAG’s complaint is government’s failure to sign the Interim Salary Adjustment Agreement, despite negotiations being completed and “consensus reached by all parties.”
The association said the interim deal is meant to provide short-term relief while a broader salary review by the Independent Emoluments Commission is pursued, with the comprehensive review expected to take effect in January 2027.
UTAG argues that leaving the interim arrangement unsigned effectively delays agreed improvements and sends the wrong signal to workers who participated in negotiation processes in good faith.
By highlighting the gap between concluded talks and implementation, UTAG framed the issue as a test of trust in public sector bargaining, insisting that commitments must translate into action within reasonable timelines.
UTAG also drew attention to “persistent challenges” involving post-retirement contract renewals and academic staff rollover arrangements.
According to the association, delays in approval, regularisation and placement of affected staff on the payroll by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and the Ministry of Finance are disrupting staffing levels and affecting smooth university operations.
The association says the uncertainty is placing additional strain on departments and could compound workload pressures, especially in programmes that rely heavily on senior faculty on contract renewals and rollover arrangements.
Unpaid OTSA, arrears and book allowance delays
Beyond the salary adjustment agreement and rollover concerns, UTAG listed a range of unpaid items it wants settled promptly.
These include the unpaid government component of the Online Teaching Support Allowance for Research Fellows and Academic Librarians, as well as outstanding salary arrears for some staff of the University of Media, Arts and Communication.
UTAG also said promotion arrears across several public universities remain unpaid. In addition, it raised concerns over unpaid institutional components of OTSA for staff of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, alongside delays in processing and paying the 2026 Book and Research Allowance.
UTAG warned that if the issues are not resolved by June 30, all branches will, within five working days, begin consultations to obtain mandates from members for possible industrial action in line with the UTAG Constitution and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
Despite issuing the ultimatum, UTAG said it remains committed to “constructive engagement, dialogue, and negotiation.”
However, it cautioned that prolonged failure to honour agreed terms could erode trust in collective bargaining and threaten industrial harmony in Ghana’s public universities, urging government to demonstrate good faith by meeting outstanding obligations without further delay.
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