Technical university administrators launch indefinite strike over unpaid research allowance in Ghana
Senior administrators of Ghana’s Technical Universities, under the umbrella of the Technical Universities Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG), have declared a nationwide indefinite strike starting December 3, 2025, over a prolonged delay in payment of a one-time research allowance.
The allowance was originally negotiated on July 10, 2024, intended to support the mandatory research and publication activities required for administrators’ career promotion and progression. Yet, nearly 17 months later, the payment remains outstanding, prompting the strike action.
TUSAAG describes the unpaid allowance not as a bonus but as a contractual entitlement. The association argues that its administration has exhausted all efforts at dialogue: letters, appeals to the government and relevant commissions, and repeated calls to meet with education authorities have allegedly been ignored or deferred. With no response, the strike became unavoidable.
The impact of the strike is expected to be profound. Essential administrative functions across all ten technical universities will be paralysed, including admissions, finance and record processing, examinations scheduling, human resources, and overall institutional governance. The disruption threatens to derail academic calendars, delay student records and results, and create uncertainty for both staff and students.
Some analysts warn that if the strike persists, entire semesters could be jeopardized, with many students potentially missing critical academic milestones. The lack of administrative supervision could also hamper research activities, institutional audits, and funding disbursement, undermining the quality and credibility of technical education in Ghana’s tertiary system.
The strike decision reflects systemic frustrations within parts of Ghana’s tertiary education sector. Many argue that repeated delays in fulfilling contractual obligations undermine staff morale and erode trust in institutional frameworks. It raises broader questions about government commitment to higher-education support, particularly in technical universities that serve as vital centers for skills development and industrial training.
Civil society groups and concerned stakeholders have called on the government to respond swiftly, meet the owed obligations, and restore normalcy. Some have urged negotiation and phased disbursement rather than prolonged standoffs, especially considering the ripple effect the strike could have on students’ academic futures and national workforce planning.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities have been urged to engage with TUSAAG immediately, review the outstanding allowance, and provide a clear roadmap for resolution. Prompt action, they argue, would prevent further disruption and protect the interests of students, administrators, and the larger educational ecosystem.
