On Thursday, November 12, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama hosted a delegation from the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the Presidency to discuss a range of concerns affecting university lecturers and the wider tertiary sector. The meeting was led by UTAG President Professor Vera Ogeh Fiador, who presented the association’s grievances over the proposed National Research Fund, the Book and Research Allowance, retirement age, recruitment, emoluments and the removal of GTEC Director‑General.
UTAG also demanded import duty exemptions on vehicles and research equipment used by its members, and raised the need for more student hostel facilities, the impact of illegal small‑scale mining, the constitutional review process and the state of the economy. The Education Minister reassured lecturers that the government would safeguard academic freedom and commit to providing the infrastructure and institutional support necessary to raise educational standards.
During the talks, the President updated the delegation on steps to resolve the UTAG‑GTEC disagreement, noting that an arbitration panel chaired by Deputy Director‑General Dr Clement Apaak was working toward a settlement. He also explained the government’s plan to partner with private investors to build student hostels on university campuses and the reasons behind recruitment delays, citing a tight public sector compensation budget that required the Finance Minister’s oversight of financial clearance for new appointments.
Mahama expressed confidence that continued economic growth following the country’s recovery would expand resources, allowing improvements in service conditions and the fulfilment of outstanding demands. He called for an amicable resolution to the UTAG‑GTEC dispute to ease tensions within the tertiary education sector.
