University non-teaching unions call for suspension of GTEC retirement directive

A coalition of non-teaching unions within Ghana’s public universities is demanding the immediate suspension and reassessment of a retirement policy issued by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

The coalition cautioned that neglecting to retract the directive could lead to disruptions in the academic calendar.

In a collective statement endorsed by union leaders such as Michael Owusu Ansah, George Ansong, Stanley Abopaam, Salamatu Braimah, Ken Yelibo, and Gerard Anamjonga, the unions characterised the GTEC policy as “unfair, arbitrary and discriminatory” towards non-teaching staff.

The unions asserted that they were not consulted before the formulation of the policy, contending that the directive was enforced without any engagement with representatives of the affected personnel.

They also dismissed the notion that non-teaching staff are insignificant in the governance and administration of public universities.

As stated, the policy aims to modify existing conditions of service and university statutes that permit staff to extend their retirement until the conclusion of the academic year.

The unions contended that universities have already issued retirement notifications to staff, specifying the dates they are expected to depart, and that these notifications have influenced how the affected employees have organised their lives and prepared for retirement in accordance with the academic calendar.

They labelled the new directive as an “offence” to staff who have made retirement arrangements based on the previous timelines.

Consequently, the unions have issued a two-week ultimatum, warning that if the policy is not rescinded within that timeframe and staff are compelled to retire in their birth month rather than at the end of the academic year, they will “advise themselves”.

The statement concluded with a plea for immediate action to avert tensions and prevent disruptions to operations at Ghana’s public universities.

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