The Senior Staff Association of the Universities of Ghana (SSA UOG), alongside other affiliated labour unions, has announced an indefinite strike, set to begin immediately, citing unresolved disputes over pay and alterations to their working conditions.
Harruna Rafik, Chairman of SSA UOG, explained that the action is a response to what the unions describe as the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission’s unilateral directive to amend the Conditions of Service of senior university staff. The unions argue that this move, which includes instructions to halt overtime allowance payments, violates agreements signed in 2021 and constitutes a breach of trust.
Beyond the changes to service conditions, the unions are demanding the settlement of unpaid salaries and allowances owed to staff at institutions such as the National Film and Television Institute, the Ghana Institute of Languages, and the Ghana Institute of Journalism. They are also insisting on the payment of five months’ outstanding tier two pension contributions to fund managers, together with the three percent penalty levied for delayed remittance of those contributions.
Mr. Rafik criticised the government for failing to respond to repeated communications and neglecting to engage the unions on these critical issues, leaving staff with no alternative but to withdraw their services.
The industrial action is expected to severely disrupt academic activities across public universities, including the University of Ghana, the University of Health and Allied Sciences, and the University for Development Studies, affecting teaching schedules, research programs, and overall campus operations.
The unions have emphasised that the strike will continue until their grievances are adequately addressed, signaling a major challenge for the administration in restoring normal operations and resolving long-standing disputes in the tertiary education sector.
