The Senior Staff Association–Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) has suspended its nationwide strike after securing a long-awaited breakthrough from the government on the implementation of a six-month-old negotiated agreement.
The industrial action, launched in collaboration with the Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG) and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), was declared indefinite on Wednesday, May 21, in protest against what the unions described as government foot-dragging on agreed terms.
However, in a swift response to mounting pressure, the Ministry of Finance has issued the long-pending letter authorising the implementation of the agreement, initially set to take effect in November 2024. The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has subsequently instructed universities to begin payment without delay.
In a statement released Thursday, May 22, SSA-UoG announced the suspension of the strike, directing all members to return to work starting Friday, May 23.
“On behalf of our sister unions, TUAAG and FUSSAG, and in my capacity as National Chairman of SSA-UoG, I am pleased to inform members that our collective pressure has yielded the desired results,” the statement declared.
The union praised the solidarity of its members across the country, crediting their unity and resolve for forcing a favourable outcome. It also acknowledged the role of Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and GTEC Director-General Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai in bringing the impasse to a close.
The resolution marks a significant win for tertiary institution staff who had decried months of government silence on what they considered a binding agreement. While the strike has ended, the unions say they will remain vigilant to ensure full and timely implementation of the deal.
