Technical University Teachers (TUTAG) Launch Nationwide Strike Over 27-Month Payment Delays

The Congress of the Technical University Teacher’s Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has officially directed its members to withdraw all services effective Thursday, October 1, 2026. The industrial action, which includes the immediate cessation of teaching, student research supervision, and the submission of examination marks, comes after a unanimous resolution passed by the association on September 24. According to TUTAG leadership, the strike is a direct response to the government's persistent failure to address critical financial obligations and contractual discrepancies that have plagued the technical university sector for over two years.

Central to the dispute is the non-payment of contractual remuneration for post-retirement contracts, which has reportedly remained outstanding for 27 months. TUTAG National President, Professor Deodat Emilson Adenutsi, expressed grave concern over the situation, noting that the prolonged delay has severely impacted the livelihoods of members. In a sobering revelation, the association highlighted that the human cost of this delay has been severe, with some qualified members having passed away while waiting for their earned dues. Beyond the unpaid salaries, TUTAG is also protesting the government’s unilateral changes to agreed-upon terms and significant discrepancies affecting the remuneration of university librarians.

While the association acknowledged some minor progress regarding the payment of book and research allowances, it emphasized that these steps are insufficient to address the core grievances. The lecturers are demanding the immediate implementation of the proper scheme of service and a total settlement of all arrears. Professor Adenutsi criticized the government's inconsistent approach to fulfilling its obligations, stating that the current industrial action would remain in force until all demands are met with concrete action rather than further promises.

The strike is expected to cause significant disruption across all technical universities in Ghana, affecting thousands of students as academic activities grind to a halt. As the academic calendar faces potential delays, the onus now lies with the government to engage in meaningful negotiations to resolve the 27-month-old impasse. For now, TUTAG remains resolute, insisting that they will not return to the lecture halls or submit student grades until the respect for their conditions of service is fully restored and all outstanding payments are credited.