Haruna Iddrisu sets weekend target for end to university strikes

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has urged the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and the Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) to suspend their industrial actions, as the government intensifies efforts to restore normal operations at public universities.

Speaking to the media on Monday, October 12, 2026, Mr Iddrisu said the government was committed to addressing the concerns raised by the unions and called on their leadership to return to the negotiating table.

The strikes have disrupted administrative and academic activities at several tertiary institutions, with universities including the University of Ghana and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology postponing their scheduled reopening.

The unions are protesting issues relating to conditions of service, salary arrangements and outstanding payments owed to lecturers on post-retirement contracts.

Mr Iddrisu said the government was making progress towards resolving the disputes and expressed hope that the strikes would be called off before the end of the week.

He also announced plans to direct the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to instruct public universities to reopen in anticipation of the unions suspending their industrial actions.

“President of GAUA, be assured that your legitimate concerns will receive the government’s priority attention,” he said, encouraging the association’s leadership to consult its members and work towards ending the dispute.

The minister indicated that GTEC could receive the directive before the close of work on Tuesday, October 13.

However, the unions’ return to work remains uncertain. TUTAG’s Takoradi Technical University chapter has said it requires a signed memorandum of understanding from the Education Ministry before it will call off its strike, stressing the need for formal assurances on the issues discussed with government.

The ongoing dispute has raised concerns about further disruptions to the academic calendar, student registration and the start of the 2026/2027 academic year.