University teachers begin nationwide strike today

University teachers across the country are this morning beginning a nationwide industrial action to protest unpaid market premium.

An emergency meeting held Wednesday night with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) failed to avert the strike.

Last night the deputy minister in charge of tertiary education, Okudzeto Ablakwa assured university teachers their outstanding premiums will be settled by Friday.

However the President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Dr Anthony Simmons said the promise came rather too late and will not stop this morning’s strike.

He insisted that "if the money hit the accounts we will take a decision" but until that is done Dr Simons maintained "we still stand by [the industrial action]".

In a related development, the Federation of University Senior Staff Association of Ghana, FUSSAG, has also served notice of their intention to withdraw services over government’s failure to settle their annual base pay.

The Chairman of the Association at the University of Cape Coast, Daniel Egyir said government "should expedite action to negotiate with us so than something will be paid to [the members of FUSSAG]".

The Deputy Education Minister said FUSSAG members should also expect their monies in the next couple of weeks.