Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU) have come to a grinding halt following an indefinite strike declared by the university’s chapter of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG). The industrial action, which began on Tuesday, April 8, is a result of the university management’s prolonged failure to address key concerns raised by the association over the past two years.
The main issue driving the strike is the university management’s failure to pay the Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) arrears to lecturers. Despite partial payments, 32 months’ worth of arrears remain outstanding, with management failing to provide a definitive timeline for clearing the debt. This has led to widespread frustration among lecturers, who feel that their efforts to support online teaching during the pandemic have not been adequately recognized or compensated.
The Chairman of TUTAG-DHLTU, Samadu Kamwine, stated that the decision to strike came after repeated engagements with both the university’s management and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) failed to yield positive results. TUTAG is demanding that the university management:
– Pay all outstanding OTSA arrears
– Provide a clear timeline for clearing the debt
– Address other long-standing concerns raised by the association
The strike has brought academic activities to a standstill, leaving students uncertain about their academic future. With no clear resolution in sight, students are worried about the potential impact on their studies and future career prospects.
The situation remains tense, with TUTAG vowing to continue the strike until their demands are met. The university management has yet to respond to the association’s demands, leaving the future of academic activities at DHLTU uncertain.
Story by: Ohemaa Adusi-Poku
