The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has warned of a possible nationwide strike from Monday if government fails to finalise and sign an interim agreement on lecturers’ conditions of service.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (10 June), UTAG General Secretary Samuel Segla said although one key concern — the delay in the release of book and research allowance rates — has been addressed, a more critical issue remains unresolved.

“We have two concerns… the release of the dollar rate is one. The second one, which is even more critical, is the interim arrangement related to our conditions of service,” he said.

Dr. Segla confirmed that the Minister for Finance has now released the exchange rate required to process the annual book and research allowance, a development that clears a major bottleneck.

The allowance, paid to senior members of public universities, is indexed in US dollars and requires an official exchange rate to trigger the processing chain involving universities, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and the finance authorities.

“The process is long… it takes about three to four months. That is why the rates must be released early,” he explained.

He added that while the allowance serves as a reimbursement for research-related costs, it does not fully cover the expenses incurred by lecturers.

Despite the progress on allowances, UTAG says the delay in finalising an interim agreement on conditions of service remains a major sticking point.

The current conditions of service expired on December 25, 2025, and negotiations for a new agreement have been stalled due to government’s plan to establish an Independent Emoluments Commission.

In the interim, UTAG and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (Fair Wages and Salaries Commission) agreed on temporary measures, but the agreement has yet to be formally signed.

“It’s been almost a month after we concluded that agreement, and we are yet to sign the document,” Dr. Segla said.

He suggested the delay may be linked to the absence of approval from the Ministry of Finance.

UTAG has given the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission a deadline to sign the agreement by Friday, warning that failure to do so will trigger further action.

“If by Friday they don’t sign the agreement… the national leadership will convene on Monday and take appropriate action,” he said.

While he did not specify the exact form of the industrial action, he indicated that the association’s members have already given leadership the mandate to act.

Dr. Segla stressed that resolving the dispute is crucial to maintaining the quality of higher education in Ghana, noting that research output remains a key criterion for academic promotion.

“If you teach very well and you don’t publish, you will still not be promoted,” he said, underscoring the importance of sustained research funding and support.

He added that UTAG’s immediate expectation is for the agreement to be signed and implementation authorised by the Ministry of Finance through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission.