The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G) and the Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) have held talks to resolve issues underpinning a strike action declared by the teachers’ association.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the instance of GTEC, focused on finding an amicable resolution to concerns raised by TUTAG, including the non-payment of staff on post-retirement contracts, changes to the promotion requirements for lecturers, and the classification of academic librarians as academic staff.
In a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and collaborate to promote industrial harmony and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of teaching and learning in the country’s technical universities.
One of the major concerns discussed was the non-payment of staff engaged by technical universities on post-retirement contracts.
According to the communiqué, the affected staff have not received payment for the past two years, despite the approval of their appointments by GTEC and their continued presence at post.
The parties acknowledged that resolving the matter falls within the remit of the Minister for Finance.
GTEC has therefore undertaken to facilitate a meeting involving the affected parties, the Minister for Finance and VCTU-G to address the issue by November 14, 2026.
The parties also discussed concerns over changes to the promotion requirements for Assistant Lecturers and Assistant Research Fellows seeking progression to the rank of Lecturer.
A GTEC letter dated July 31, 2025, introduced a PhD requirement for progression from Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer, replacing the previous arrangement under which a PhD was not mandatory.
TUTAG argued that the directive amounted to a unilateral variation of the amended Scheme of Service for Staff of Technical Universities dated October 8, 2021.
Following deliberations, GTEC agreed to grant a concession to affected staff who held the rank of Assistant Lecturer or Assistant Research Fellow and met their respective universities’ promotion criteria before the issuance of the July 31, 2025 directive.
The concession exempts such staff from the PhD requirement for progression to the rank of Lecturer.
The classification of academic librarians as academic staff was another issue addressed at the meeting.
The communiqué stated that GTEC was not opposed, in principle, to TUTAG’s position on the matter.
The parties consequently agreed that the National President of the University Librarians Association should submit a technical paper for consideration and implementation.
The move is expected to provide a basis for further consideration of the concerns surrounding the classification of academic librarians within the technical university system.
On the strike, TUTAG is expected to consult its general membership and immediately suspend the industrial action while efforts continue to address the outstanding concerns.
The communiqué did not indicate that all the issues had been fully resolved but outlined steps the parties had agreed to pursue in addressing them.
The planned meeting with the Minister for Finance, the concession on promotion requirements and the submission of a technical paper on academic librarians’ classification form part of the agreed measures.
The meeting brought together GTEC, VCTU-G and TUTAG in an effort to address the concerns underlying the industrial action through dialogue.
The parties concluded by reaffirming their commitment to continued engagement and cooperation in the interest of industrial harmony and the uninterrupted delivery of teaching and learning across Ghana’s technical universities.
The communiqué was signed by Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General of GTEC; Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, Chairman of VCTU-G; and Prof. Deodat Emilson Adenutsi, National President of TUTAG.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
