President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that government agencies and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) will come up with a binding agreement to address grievances of the teacher Union.

"All of us are happy that UTAG has suspended the strike after a long drawn out negotiations and we are hoping that some binding agreement will be reached, because a roadmap has been established and hopefully both parties will ensure the implementation of the roadmap.

It is in the interest of all of us that there is no disruption to the academic calendar in our tertiary institutions and that the teachers have what it takes to be able to discharge this important obligation of raising the next crop of leaders, because this is in all of our interest," the President said during a meeting with leadership of UTAG at the Jubilee House Thursday.

UTAG agreed to take steps to suspend the ongoing strike action whilst the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, in conjunction with the National Labour Commission (NLC) take steps to discontinue all legal processes against the Association.

UTAG has been on strike in the last few weeks, requesting government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012 which they said is far better than what pertains currently.

The 2012 Single Spine package put entry-level lecturers on a salary of $2,084 while the current level puts lecturers’ salaries around $900. 

A Memorandum of Agreement signed by the government and UTAG, sighted by JoyNews after the meeting, indicated that, “both parties agree that there is a need to get back to the negotiating table from the week beginning Monday 23rd August 2021.”

During the period, government and UTAG will among other things, negotiate the research component of the Book and Research Allowance, market premium, and non-basic allowance.

Following the deliberations, the parties have agreed as follows:

1. That both parties (Government and UTAG) agree that there is a need to get back to the negotiating table from the week beginning Monday, August 23, 2021.

2. That a roadmap for negotiation, as agreed at previous consultative meetings between the parties, which imposes a one-month mandatory period beginning 23rd August, 2021 for negotiations, shall be signed by both parties;

3. That whilst the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations in conjunction with the NLC is taking steps to discontinue all legal processes against UTAG, UTAG will also take steps to suspend the ongoing strike action;

4. That government acknowledges the need to improve the working conditions of University Teachers and shall treat this with all the seriousness it deserves.

NUGS President, Emmanuel Yiadom Boakye, called on President Akufo-Addo to personally intervene.

"We the students are at the receiving end of this strike and it is in this regard that we want to appeal to you Mr. President, to personally intervene and ensure that both parties do not go into the negotiations with entrenched position, because such a posture will not help the students," he pleaded. 

President Akufo-Addo said his government is working to meet the demands of UTAG in a bid to ensure the academic calendar is not disturbed.