UTAG, CETAG, TUTAG call off strike after GTEC moves to settle book & research allowances

Three major unions in Ghana’s tertiary education sector — UTAG, CETAG, and TUTAG have officially withdrawn their threat of industrial action following a decisive intervention by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

The unions’ primary concern, the delayed payment of Book and Research Allowances for the 2024/2025 academic year has been addressed, according to a statement released by the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Friday, June 13, 2025.

The development comes after a hearing involving representatives of the three unions, during which the NLC confirmed that GTEC, in a directive issued on June 11, instructed all heads of public tertiary institutions to submit audited claims to enable prompt release of funds.

The directive covers both academic and non-academic senior staff.

The unions University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), and Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) had earlier raised concerns over recurring delays and lack of clarity regarding the allowance payments.

With the core issue now resolved, the unions have agreed to stand down their planned strike.

The NLC welcomed the resolution, describing it as a positive outcome of constructive dialogue, and urged all parties especially government and educational institutions to ensure that the payment process is completed smoothly and without further delays to prevent future disruptions.