Academic activities at the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU) have ground to a halt following an indefinite strike declared by the university’s chapter of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG).
The industrial action, which began on Tuesday, April 8, stems from management’s prolonged failure to address several key concerns raised by the association over the past two years.
Speaking to Channel One TV, Chairman of TUTAG-DHLTU, Mr. Samadu Kamwine, explained that the strike was declared after repeated engagements with the university’s management and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) failed to produce meaningful outcomes.
He revealed that although management had paid two months of Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) arrears, it had failed to provide a clear timeline for settling the remaining 34 months—recently revised to 32 following partial payments.
The association formally notified the university of the strike in a letter dated April 4, 2025, outlining several unresolved grievances.
These include management’s unfulfilled promise, made on March 13, 2025, to settle the OTSA arrears and the lack of an agreed schedule to clear the outstanding balance.
TUTAG is also demanding the immediate payment of the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) component of the End of Service Benefit (ESB) to retired staff, which has seen long delays. Additionally, members have not yet received this year’s OTSA covering January to March 2025.
Beyond financial concerns, the association cited deteriorating conditions for teaching and learning. It highlighted the lack of projectors and other essential Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) in lecture theatres.
“The computer laboratory, a crucial resource for ICT students, remains poorly equipped, with most of its computers broken down,” Mr. Kamwine noted. “Similarly, the Fashion Design Studio is facing a shortage of sewing machines, forcing nearly 200 students to rely on just 20 machines.”
Mr. Kamwine further clarified that the strike is not directed at the central government or the Ministry of Education but solely at DHLTU’s management, whom he accused of poor leadership and disregard for staff welfare.
“We’ve done everything possible, including engaging GTEC, but management’s continued silence and inaction have left us with no option but to lay down our tools,” he stated.
The effects of the strike are already being felt across the university. Bashiru Konate-Satar, a level 100 ICT student, expressed concern over the disruption to academic work as mid-semester exams approach.
Final-year student Belinda Abanga echoed the sentiment, saying, “My class arrived on campus expecting lectures, only to discover that all teaching staff had withdrawn their services.”
Despite the strike, TUTAG insists it remains open to dialogue and expressed readiness to extend the academic calendar to recover lost contact hours if their concerns are addressed.
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