By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Sumbrungu (U/E), Nov. 14, GNA- The Technical Universities Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) has warned that its members may embark on a nationwide strike if government fails to honour the agreement to pay research allowances owed to administrators by the end of the year.
Mr Stanley Akamiri Abopaam, National President of TUSAAG, issued the warning at the Association’s 7th National Annual Delegates Conference held at the Bolgatanga Technical University in Sumbrungu, on the theme, “Unity, Innovation and Advocacy: Strengthening the Voice of the University Administrator.”
He said the unpaid allowance stemmed from an agreement signed in July last year among TUSAAG, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
According to Mr Abopaam, the agreement was to compensate administrators of the technical universities who had conducted peer-reviewed research for promotion purposes.
He said despite government’s commitment, the allowance factored in the 2025 budget statement of the government, has still not been paid, creating mounting frustration among administrators across technical universities.
“It has become a very serious matter to us, and if not carefully looked at, it can degenerate into industrial disharmony within the tertiary university space,” he stated.
He disclosed that pressure was mounting on the National Executive Council (NEC) to immediately declare a strike, but the leadership was still hopeful that government would act promptly to avert such a situation.
Mr Abopaam stressed that the leadership and members of TUSAAG would not tolerate any further delay beyond 2025.
“What we are saying is that if these delays continue, we will have no option than to appropriately advise ourselves. In labour terms, it doesn’t mean anything other than declaring a strike to press home that demand.
“No, we won’t accept it going beyond this year. We expect that the money should hit our accounts by the end of this year. Beyond that, we will take a definite position and I’m sure it will be a position government will not be very interested in,” he cautioned.
He also reiterated the Association’s concerns about widening pay disparities between administrators and their teaching colleagues, describing the situation as “a significant demotivation” within the tertiary education sector.
“While we unequivocally support fair remuneration for academic colleagues, a situation where the compensation for administrative staff falls into an inequitable disparity is demoralising and certainly unsustainable in the scheme of things.
This gap fails to recognise the critical year-round role we play in our institutional governance and stability. We call on the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to urgently review and rectify this imbalance to ensure fair and equitable compensation for all professional staff within the technical university space”, he said.
Professor Peter Osei Boamah, Pro Vice Chancellor, Bolgatanga Technical University, who chaired the opening ceremony of the congress, lauded the administrators, describing them as the backbone of institutional excellence.
“As technical universities, which evolve to meet the demands of the changing world, administrators must lead with creativity, agility and foresight from digital systems to strategic planning because your innovation drives institutional relevance”, he said.
He urged the administrators to continue to advocate the development of the technical universities and improvement in the condition of service of their members.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister, hailed administrators as indispensable ‘engine’ of Ghana’s technical universities and called on them to be innovative to continue to support the operations of the schools.
“When we unite our minds, innovate with courage and advocate with wisdom, we do not only strengthen our institutions, we strengthen the very foundation of our nation”, he said.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/George-Ramsey Benamba