{"id":114813,"date":"2026-02-10T14:48:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T14:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=114813"},"modified":"2026-02-10T14:48:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T14:48:19","slug":"education-minister-appeals-for-end-to-university-staff-strike-confirms-partial-payment-of-arrears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=114813","title":{"rendered":"Education Minister appeals for end to university staff strike, confirms partial payment of arrears"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>1 Minute, 53 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><div>\n<p>The Minister of Education has issued a public appeal to the striking members of the Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (USSAG) and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to return to work. <\/p>\n<p>The appeal was made during the official ceremony for the submission of the transition committee report for the transfer of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).<\/p>\n<p>Addressing the gathering, which included the President, the Minister framed the appeal as a matter of reciprocal goodwill. He highlighted the government\u2019s commitment to academic freedom as a gesture that should be met with cooperation from the academic community.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Audio-2026-02-10-at-2.11.52-PM.mp4\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cMr. President, at the time that you are meeting the University of Ghana and academia, I understand that there\u2019s an ongoing strike action. Let me use this opportunity to call on our friends in academia that while President Mahama is honoring his word, he\u2019s giving you unfettered what the constitution guarantees as academic freedom. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s giving it to you absolutely that you will not interfere with the freedom of the university. I do not think that we are reciprocating the gesture kind enough of President Mahama. So may I use this opportunity to call on the striking Senior Staff members and members of UTAG to call off the strike action,\u201d the Minister stated.<\/p>\n<p>Acknowledging the legitimacy of the staff\u2019s grievances, primarily concerning outstanding Tier 2 pension contributions, the Minister provided an update on payments. He revealed that a significant partial payment had been made earlier in the day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnderstandably, you have two legitimate issues. One, outstanding payment of tier two pensions that has been done partly. We inherited about one billion. As of this afternoon, the controller paid about 396 million Ghana cedis, leaving about 600 million cedis. And that is also the process. Mr President met with the Honorable Minister for Finance and Controller, and we agreed to walk the process to get it done,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister\u2019s appeal and financial update come as the industrial action by university senior staff and teachers continues to disrupt academic activities across the nation\u2019s public universities. <\/p>\n<p>The strike, initiated over delays in the payment of pension contributions and other conditions of service, has brought teaching and administrative operations to a standstill.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n        <div class=\"booster-block booster-reactions-block\">\n            <div class=\"twp-reactions-icons\">\n                \n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-1\" post-id=\"114813\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" 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   <\/div>\n\n    ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div>The Minister of Education has issued a public appeal to the striking members of the Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (USSAG) and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to return to 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