The Senior Staff Association–Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) has declared an indefinite strike with immediate effect, citing what it describes as persistent bad faith actions by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), prolonged delays by the National Labour Commission (NLC), and government’s failure to honour critical financial obligations to its members.
The decision was announced at a press conference presented by Mr. George Ansong, National Chairman of SSA-UoG, who said the Association was left with no option after exhausting all formal dispute-resolution mechanisms, only to be met with unilateral decisions, broken agreements, and what he described as a systematic erosion of members’ conditions of service.
Central to the dispute is the FWSC’s decision to alter an existing Conditions of Service agreement that recognizes overtime allowance for senior staff of public universities. SSA-UoG said the agreement, signed with government and in force since 2021, clearly qualifies its members for overtime payments.
However, in May 2025, the University of Ghana (UG) abruptly suspended overtime payments and replaced them with a “call-in allowance,” citing financial constraints and audit objections. The unions said UG ignored repeated reminders of the binding agreement, forcing them to threaten industrial action.
The matter was referred to the National Labour Commission, where the FWSC initially testified that the agreement was valid and that UG should continue paying overtime pending the conclusion of negotiations. Yet, shortly after, the unions discovered a letter from the FWSC instructing UG to stop overtime payments—an action they described as a betrayal of trust and a breach of negotiation rules.
When the unions raised concerns and demanded the withdrawal of the letter, the FWSC declined, prompting a boycott of negotiations. Matters worsened when, at a subsequent NLC sitting in November 2025, the FWSC reversed its earlier position, claiming its previous testimony was an error and arguing that senior staff do not qualify for overtime.
Mr. Ansong further accused the NLC of delaying the process, noting that the FWSC failed to appear at a scheduled hearing on January 21, 2026, leading to further adjournment. Meanwhile, UG has fully implemented the call-in allowance, with the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and the University for Development Studies (UDS) following suit—a development the unions describe as a dangerous precedent threatening their living conditions.
Beyond the overtime dispute, the Association cited government’s failure to pay four years of salary arrears and related allowances following the upgrading of NAFTI, GIL, and GIJ into the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC). Despite repeated letters, meetings, and assurances, the Ministry of Finance has failed to respond, even after intervention by the NLC in November 2025.
The unions also expressed grave concern over the non-payment of five months’ Tier Two pension contributions from August to December 2024. Mr. Ansong stressed that the funds are critical to members’ retirement security and demanded the mandatory three percent penalty for delayed remittances, as required by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA).
In conclusion, Mr. Ansong said the Association does not take pleasure in embarking on industrial action but insists that fairness, respect, and strict adherence to signed agreements are non-negotiable.
