Members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) are set to commence a nationwide industrial action from February 1.

This decision follows the government's failure to meet their demands for improved conditions of service, as stipulated in the ultimatum issued at the end of January.

Chairman Sulemana Abdul Rahman clarified that their demands include the non-provision of lump sum amounts for pension to some retired members and the non-receipt of various allowances owed to those currently in active service.

In an interview with JoyNews on January 30, Rahman stated that approximately 10,000 members across various public universities would abstain from rendering their services starting Thursday as part of the industrial action.

“I can assure you that we are over 10,000 members in the public universities across the country. So from tomorrow, the whole country will know whether we are on strike or we are not on strike, because we are still at the workplace that is why people were not seeing the seriousness.

“You know GAWU and SSA-SoG have already declared and they are on strike but because we were at the workplaces the impact was not there. The government has not felt the heat.

“From tomorrow government will feel the heat and do the needful. Even though we do not wish to embark on a strike, as I said, when you are being pushed to the wall, the only option that you have is to respect the voice of the members by putting down your tools, which we have done.”

He clarified that the strike would unfold in stages, meaning that certain crucial sectors such as security personnel, drivers, and certain secretarial staff would not participate initially. However, he added that, over time, the industrial action would encompass all members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH).

“We are of the view that the strike is in stages for now, we are asking the security to remain at the post.  But when we get to a stage where we need to withdraw everybody, I can assure you that the university will be on lockdown. If the security men are not there to work, you can imagine what will happen," he added.

Meanwhile, he said, if the government called them to the negotiation table and addressed their concerns, they would call off the strike.