The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to immediately withdraw directives concerning post-retirement contracts for academic staff at public universities.
The decision, which was contained in a press statement on April 27, 2026, was arrived at following a high-level meeting between the Education Minister and the leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
The Minister’s order specifically targets GTEC letters dated September 30 and October 1, 2025 which had outlined new, more restrictive conditions for “Academic Senior Members” seeking to continue their service after reaching the mandatory retirement age.
The move to withdraw these directives is seen as a significant concession to UTAG, which has historically argued that post-retirement contracts are essential for maintaining the quality of research and postgraduate supervision in Ghana’s tertiary institutions.
According to the Ministry, the withdrawal is intended to create space for “further consultations” with key stakeholders.
The goal is to ensure that future policy directions reflect a broad consensus and serve the best interests of the education sector.
“The decision has been taken… to ensure that any policy direction in this regard reflects broad consensus, promotes institutional sustainability, and serves the best interests of Ghana’s tertiary education sector,” the statement signed by Press Secretary Hashmin Mohammed read.
The Ministry emphasized its commitment to a “transparent, inclusive, and consultative approach” when dealing with issues affecting higher education.
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The suspension of the GTEC directives is expected to ease tensions between the government and university faculty, providing a reprieve for senior academics whose contract renewals had been in limbo due to the 2025 guidelines.
Further meetings between the Ministry, GTEC, and UTAG are expected in the coming weeks to draft a new framework for post-retirement service.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
