The Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) has declared a nationwide strike in response to what it describes as the government’s continued failure to address their demands for improved working conditions.
The strike is set to begin on Monday, September 16, 2024, with all services in public universities expected to be withdrawn.
This industrial action follows several protests and negotiations with the government that have yet to yield the desired outcomes. According to the association, the government missed a key deadline to implement agreed-upon terms, prompting the decision to take action.
In a statement signed by the association’s National Chairman, George Ansong, the SSA-UoG expressed its frustration with the government’s inability to pay the new rate of vehicle maintenance and related allowances, as previously agreed.
Additionally, they noted that tier 2 pension deductions, owed since January 2024, have not been released to fund managers, and the recalculation of interests on pension allowances from 2010 to 2016 remains outstanding.
The association, along with other university worker unions, had embarked on a nationwide strike earlier this year over the same concerns. That strike was called off when the government promised to meet their demands. However, SSA-UoG says the government has failed to fulfill its commitments, forcing them to resume their industrial action.
“All administrative offices, including libraries, hospital facilities, and security personnel on campuses of public universities, are expected to be closed,” the statement read. The association emphasized that its members would not resume work until their demands are fully addressed.
The leadership of SSA-UoG has called for strict adherence to the strike directive across all member campuses, adding that they are not willing to back down until the government meets their demands.
“Therefore, it is hereby directed that all member campuses adhere to this directive strictly,” the statement concluded.
This strike is expected to disrupt essential services at public universities nationwide, affecting students, staff, and university operations. The government has yet to respond publicly to the announcement.