The leadership of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana has declared an indefinite strike effective Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.
This follows what they described as the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) unjust sidelining of its members on the newly inaugurated governing council of KNUST.
KNUST inaugurated its newly constituted Governing Council on Tuesday, 29th April 2025, with Akyamfoɔ Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu appointed as Chairman of the board.
Interestingly, TEWU-TUC, another group, was chosen to represent TEWU on the governing council, a decision TEWU-GH has described as biased, undemocratic and a violation of their rights.
According to members of TEWU-GH, they hold a majority membership of 789, while TEWU-TUC has only 123 members. TEWU-GH thus argues that the decision by GTEC to recognise a minority union (TEWU-TUC) over a majority union (TEWU-GH) amounts to cheating, which undermines labour freedom.
TEWU-GH has called for the immediate withdrawal of TEWU-TUC from the governing council of KNUST and, as a result, has declared an indefinite strike starting Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.
Speaking at a news conference at KNUST on Wednesday, April 30, Chairman of TEWU-GH, Charles Arthur, noted that his members have resolved to stay away from their duties if the decision is not reversed immediately.
“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.
“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.
“We call on the President, Chief of Staff, and all stakeholders to take urgent interest in this matter and help restore fairness and due process 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.
“Until the decision is reversed, TEWU-Ghana KNUST Local hereby declares an indefinite strike effective today.”he declared.
