The leadership of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) has declared an indefinite strike, effective Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
This action follows what the union describes as the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) unjust decision to sideline its members on the newly inaugurated governing council of KNUST.
The council, inaugurated on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, appointed Akyamfoɔ Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu as Chairman. However, TEWU-TUC, a rival group, was chosen to represent TEWU on the council, a decision TEWU-GH has labeled as biased, undemocratic, and a violation of their rights.
TEWU-GH, which claims a majority membership of 789 compared to TEWU-TUC’s 123, argues that GTEC’s recognition of the minority union undermines labour freedom.
In response, TEWU-GH has called for the immediate withdrawal of TEWU-TUC from the council and announced its indefinite strike.
Speaking at a news conference at KNUST on Wednesday, April 30, TEWU-GH Chairman Charles Arthur expressed his members’ frustration.
“Despite the majority union among workers at KNUST, TEWU-Ghana has been objectively sidelined by GTEC, which has chosen to recognise TEWU-TUC as the representative union on the university’s governing council”.
Mr. Arthur described the decision as a violation of democratic principles and a deliberate suppression of workers’ rights.
“This is not only a clear violation of the democratic principles of union representation but also a deliberate act of suppression against the will of workers”.
The union has called on President Mahama, the Chief of Staff, and other stakeholders to intervene and restore fairness to tertiary education governance.
“We once again call on the Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, to immediately reverse the unjust decision and restore TEWU-Ghana KNUST Local’s rightful place on the KNUST Governing Council”.
