The Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) has officially declared an indefinite nationwide strike, beginning today, over concerns regarding union representation on the Governing Councils of public universities in Ghana.
The decision follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the government and relevant authorities on June 24, 2025. TEWU-GH is protesting what it describes as an unfair decision to recognize a minority union — TEWU-TUC — as the official workers’ representative on the councils of traditional public universities.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, TEWU-GH expressed its deep disappointment and frustration over the government’s continued recognition of TEWU-TUC, despite TEWU-GH having the majority of members among university workers.
According to TEWU-GH, this move by the authorities undermines democratic principles and ignores the majority voice of workers in public universities. The union believes the decision is not only unjustified but also violates the rights of its members.
TEWU-GH said it had hoped the authorities would respond reasonably during the one-week ultimatum period. However, after receiving no satisfactory explanation or resolution, the union felt compelled to take immediate action.
Union’s Demands
TEWU-GH has made the following key demands:
- Immediate removal of TEWU-TUC as the recognized workers’ representative on the Governing Councils of traditional public universities.
- An urgent directive from the Ministers of Labour, Employment and Education instructing the Chief Labour Officer to conduct an independent verification of which union truly has the majority of workers, as required under Labour Regulations 2007 (L.I. 1833).
- Creation of a fair and transparent process for determining union representation in all public universities, allowing the voice of the majority to be accurately reflected in university governance.
The union has made it clear that these demands are non-negotiable and must be addressed before any consideration is given to ending the strike.
TEWU-GH is calling on other labour unions, education stakeholders, civil society organisations, and the general public to support their cause. The union stressed that unity among workers is key to protecting their rights and ensuring fairness in decision-making across the tertiary education sector.
“We are ready for peaceful dialogue, but we will not back down on our demands,” the union stated. “This is not just about our union. It is about protecting the democratic rights of workers across all public universities.”
The union added that it is acting within its rights under the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) and the TEWU-GH Constitution. It urged all its members to fully comply with the strike, follow the guidelines, and stand together in solidarity.
Impact on Universities
The strike is expected to affect non-teaching activities in public universities nationwide. TEWU-GH members include administrative staff, security personnel, cleaners, technical staff, and other non-teaching employees. The absence of these key workers could disrupt operations in several institutions if the matter is not resolved quickly.
University authorities and government representatives have yet to issue an official response to the strike declaration.
TEWU-GH has warned that the strike will continue until their demands are fully met, and proper representation is restored in line with democratic practices.
