Friday, 6 November 2026

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Friday, 6 November 2026

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Ghanaian press · Organization

University Teachers Association of Ghana

Also known as: UTAG

University Teachers Association of Ghana — labour union representing university lecturers, active in pay disputes and governance advocacy at major universities including KNUST and UG.

2026-04-272026-11-06

News reports

Order a long-term news report on University Teachers Association of Ghana

Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

September 2026
15 SeptJoy Online
… In a letter dated September 14, 2026, and addressed to the leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-KNUST), the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG KNUST), the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TEW …
KNUST administrators oppose proposed Alumni Association statute, changes to leadership appointments
10 SeptJoy Online
Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has clarified that no final institutional decision has been taken on the appointment of Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Deans, following concerns raised by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-KNU …
KNUST Management responds to UTAG, says statutes review still ongoing
10 SeptJoy Online
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has escalated its dispute over the appointment of Pro-Vice Chancellors and Deans to the University Council. …
UTAG-KNUST escalates Pro-VC, Dean appointment dispute to University Council
9 SeptJoy Online
The University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) has warned that poor remuneration is making it increasingly difficult for Ghanaian universities to attract highly qualified academics, particularly professionals with PhDs and specialised in …
Low pay making it harder for universities to attract PhD holders – UTAG-UG
August 2026
21 AugJoy Online
… It also follows a vote by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at KNUST rejecting proposals to replace existing election arrangements with appointment systems for the positions. …
KNUST assures staff, public over statute review process amid UTAG concerns
21 AugJoy Online
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has voted to retain the existing election system for selecting Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Deans. …
UTAG-KNUST votes to retain elections for Pro-Vice Chancellors and Deans
20 AugJoy Online
Tensions are mounting at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) over the ongoing review of the University’s statutes, with some members of the university community, including members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), threatening indus …
KNUST statutes review sparks tensions as some UTAG members threaten strike
18 AugJoy Online
… including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), University Teachers Association of Ghana …
FWSC consults Organised Labour on transition to IPEC
16 AugJoy Online
… The engagement brought together more than 50 labour organisations, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and Ghana Registered Nurs …
Labour backs proposed IPEC but demands full involvement in pay reforms
14 AugJoy Online
… However, the Chief Executive of the FWSC, Dr Smith Graham, said the Commission had held extensive discussions with the administrators and reached an agreement with them before concluding negotiations with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG). …
FWSC disputes GAUA’s claims over allowances, rejects comparison with lecturers

Politics

UCC-UTAG calls on GTEC to respect university autonomy boundaries

The News

The University of Cape Coast Chapter of UTAG has called on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to refrain from interfering in university affairs and focus on its core mandates of regulation, advisory, coordination, and accreditation. A Senior Member of the Faculty of Law at UCC argued that GTEC's Director-General and staff are legally required to operate within defined mandates and that actions outside that scope would be unlawful.

27 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 27 October

UCC-UTAG calls on GTEC to respect university autonomy boundaries
The University of Cape Coast Chapter of UTAG has called on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to refrain from interfering in university affairs and focus on its core mandates of regulation, advisory, coordination, and accreditation. A Senior Member of the Faculty of Law at UCC argued that GTEC's Director-General and staff are legally required to operate within defined mandates and that actions outside that scope would be unlawful.
27 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 20 October

UTAG-UG sets October 20 deadline for lecturer allowances
University of Ghana's UTAG branch has given the government until today, October 20, to pay lecturers' Book and Research Allowances, threatening strike action from October 19 if the funds are not disbursed. The Controller and Accountant-General's Department had assured the association that payment would be made by end of Monday, October 19.
20 October 2026 · Daily Guide →

Monday 19 October

UTAG-UG gives government October 20 deadline on unpaid allowances
The University of Ghana branch of UTAG has given the government until October 20, 2026, to pay lecturers' Book and Research Allowances or face a strike, after the Controller and Accountant-General's Department assured payment by October 19.
19 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Opinion: NPP should unite behind NAPO for 2028 presidency
A Joy Online opinion piece argues the NPP must close ranks behind Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), Vice President Bawumia's running mate, citing his experience as Education Minister, policy depth, and established working relationship with the flagbearer as reasons to look beyond factional preferences.
19 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 12 October

GAUA to announce strike decision after consulting members
The Ghana Association of University Administrators will consult members on talks with the Education Ministry before deciding whether to suspend its two-month strike, with a decision expected after Tuesday, October 13. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has called for the strike to be called off to allow universities to reopen and academic work to resume by October 19.
12 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana government directs universities to reopen by weekend
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to ask public universities to announce reopening dates towards the weekend as the government works to end the GAUA strike, which has disrupted administrative operations at institutions including the University of Ghana and KNUST. The minister expressed optimism the strike would be suspended in the coming days, allowing academic activities to resume on Monday and preserve the academic calendar.
12 October 2026 · Joy Online →
UG, KNUST postpone academic year reopening over GAUA strike
The University of Ghana and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology have indefinitely postponed the reopening scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, respectively, due to an ongoing strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators.
12 October 2026 · Daily Guide →
FWSC chief surprised GAUA continues strike after MoU
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission CEO says the Ghana Association of University Administrators' ongoing strike surprises him, given that GAUA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commission and has been paid following concluded negotiations. He attributes the strike to GAUA's belief that the University Teachers Association of Ghana secured more favourable terms in its own negotiations.
12 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 10 October

UTAG-UG threatens October 19 strike over unpaid allowance
The University of Ghana branch of UTAG has threatened to withdraw teaching and related services from Monday, October 19, 2026, if the government does not pay its members' 2026 Book and Research Allowance by Friday, October 16, 2026. The association says the delay violates a 2020 Memorandum of Agreement requiring the allowance to be paid by the end of August each year.
10 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 25 September

KNUST Governing Council ends faculty election of academic leaders
KNUST's Governing Council has decided to end the practice of faculty electing their own Deans and Pro-Vice-Chancellors, moving instead to appointment by the administration. The decision, made shortly after a new Vice-Chancellor took office, has drawn formal opposition from major staff unions including UTAG, GAUA, and TEWU-TUC, who view it as a removal of academic participation in university governance.
25 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 15 September

KNUST administrators oppose Alumni Association statute changes
GAUA-KNUST has called for the expunging of proposed Statute 79 on the Alumni Association and opposed proposed changes to the appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellors and Deans, arguing the reforms could weaken governance structures and staff participation in university decision-making.
15 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 10 September

KNUST clarifies no final decision on Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Deans yet
KNUST Management has clarified that no final institutional decision has been taken on the appointment of Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Deans following UTAG-KNUST concerns. The Academic Board's report and draft Statutes will be submitted to the Governing Council for consideration, and Management emphasized the review process remains ongoing with emphasis on inclusiveness, consultation and transparency.
10 September 2026 · Joy Online →
UTAG-KNUST escalates Pro-VC and Dean appointment dispute to Council
The University Teachers Association of Ghana at KNUST has escalated its dispute over Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean appointments to the University Council after the Academic Board failed to preserve the existing appointment process pending agreement on a new framework. UTAG argues that meaningful academic staff participation in these leadership decisions is required under Act 1157 and concerns collegial governance principles, not mere procedure.
10 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 9 September

Low lecturer pay hindering university recruitment of PhD holders
The University of Ghana chapter of UTAG has warned that poor remuneration for lecturers is making it difficult for universities to attract highly qualified academics with PhDs and specialized industry experience. UTAG-UG President Dr Jerry Joe Harrison argued that improving conditions of service and strengthening universities' capacity to train their own academics would be more sustainable than allowing GTEC to take over recruitment.
9 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 21 August

KNUST clarifies statute review still ongoing amid governance changes
KNUST management has assured staff and the public that no draft Statutes should be considered final until the ongoing review process is completed, following UTAG's rejection of proposed changes to governance arrangements for Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Deans. The review follows the coming into force of the KNUST Act, 2025, with an Academic Board review committee still assessing the draft alongside stakeholder submissions.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
UTAG-KNUST votes to retain elections for university leaders
The University Teachers Association of Ghana at KNUST has voted to retain the existing election system for selecting Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Deans, rejecting proposed Statute changes that would have introduced appointment systems. The union cited the importance of broad participation, collegiality, transparency, and confidence in university leadership selection.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 20 August

KNUST statute review prompts UTAG members to threaten strike action
Tensions are mounting at KNUST over a review of the university's statutes, with some UTAG members threatening industrial action over concerns including inadequate consultation, proposed changes to the selection of senior university officers, and provisions they believe could concentrate greater authority in the Vice-Chancellor's office.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 18 August

FWSC consults labour on transition to independent compensation body
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission held a two-day stakeholder engagement with Organised Labour to brief them on the establishment of the Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC) and solicit input for a draft bill. The IPEC Bill, when passed, will repeal Act 737 and address pay fragmentation, politicisation of salaries, and rising wage bill pressures in the public sector.
18 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 16 August

Labour backs IPEC proposal, demands role in pay reforms
Organised labour has expressed support for the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC) while calling for continuous involvement in establishing the new public sector compensation body. The FWSC held a stakeholder engagement to gather labour's views on the draft IPEC Bill, which will replace the existing Act 737 governing the FWSC and establish a new framework for determining public sector compensation.
16 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 14 August

FWSC rejects GAUA allowances comparison with university lecturers
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission says it has concluded negotiations with the Ghana Association of University Administrators over allowances and disputes their comparison with university lecturers' conditions of service, arguing that such comparisons create tension among labour groups. GAUA is currently on strike over concerns about conditions of service and allowances.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 10 August

GAUA begins indefinite strike over allowance disparity
The Ghana Association of University Administrators has launched an indefinite strike from August 10, 2026, citing unfair disparities in allowances between teaching and non-teaching staff in public universities. GAUA General Secretary Charles Kojo Aidoo highlighted that assistant lecturers receive market premiums of about GH¢7,400 while university registrars and directors of finance receive approximately GH¢6,000.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →
University administrators seek condition of service since 2008
Ghana Association of University Administrators says its members have worked without a formal condition of service since 2008 and have embarked on industrial action over the absence of updated conditions and disparities in allowances between teaching and non-teaching staff. The association submitted proposals to government but was told government would not negotiate a comprehensive agreement, citing an incoming independent emolument commission.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →
UTAG rejects discrimination claim over market premium disparities
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has rejected claims by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) that disparities in Market Premiums between teaching and non-teaching Senior Members constitute discrimination, arguing that pay differences reflect qualifications, responsibilities, and labour-market conditions rather than unfair treatment.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 21 July

Coalition calls for stronger enforcement against galamsey
The Coalition Against Galamsey has urged the government to intensify law enforcement against illegal mining beyond press briefings, citing continued devastation of forests, rivers and farmlands. The group welcomed the Attorney-General's decision to stop prosecuting community members defending water bodies and called for justice for a 13-year-old victim in Kete Krachi.
21 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Coalition urges sustained law enforcement against illegal mining
The Coalition Against Galamsey called on the government to intensify efforts against illegal mining through firm and sustained law enforcement beyond press briefings, citing the continued devastation of forests, rivers and farmlands. The Coalition welcomed the Attorney-General's decision to discontinue prosecution of community members arrested defending water bodies from illegal mining and appealed for justice for a 13-year-old victim in Kete Krachi.
21 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Tuesday 14 July

TUSAAG announces indefinite strike from July 20 over unpaid allowances
The Technical Universities Senior Administrators Association of Ghana plans to resume an indefinite strike from July 20, 2026, citing the government's failure to honour agreements on outstanding allowances, including a negotiated one-time research allowance and an interim allowance agreement. The strike will affect all 10 technical universities across the country following months of unsuccessful engagements and a missed March 30, 2026 payment deadline.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 6 July

UTAG suspends nationwide strike after government commitments
The University Teachers Association of Ghana has suspended its planned July 6 nationwide strike following renewed talks with the government, citing concrete commitments and written assurances to address members' conditions of service. UTAG warned it would reinstate the strike if the government fails to fulfill its commitments.
6 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Education Minister orders GTEC to withdraw university lecturer retirement directive
Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has directed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to withdraw its controversial letter on the retirement and post-retirement engagement of university lecturers, saying the Commission must respect existing conditions of service for academic staff. The directive follows concerns raised by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Minister's stated commitment to honouring agreed conditions of service and respecting exemptions already granted under the retirement policy.
6 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 29 June

UTAG-UCC rejects GTEC harmonisation plan for academic promotions
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) – University of Cape Coast branch has rejected a proposed policy by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to harmonise promotion guidelines for academic staff across public universities, stating it exceeds GTEC's statutory mandate and infringes on governance functions that belong to university councils and academic boards.
29 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 23 June

UTAG threatens strike if welfare demands unmet by June 2026
The University Teachers Association of Ghana has issued an ultimatum to government, warning of possible industrial action if seven outstanding conditions of service for academic staff—including salary adjustments, OTSA payments, promotion arrears, and research allowances—are not resolved by June 30, 2026.
23 June 2026 · Daily Guide →