Academic activities at Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU) have been suspended following an indefinite strike declared by the university’s chapter of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG).

The strike, which began on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, stems from unresolved issues with university management, including the non-payment of allowances owed to lecturers.

In a conversation with Channel One TV, Samadu Kamwine, the Chairman of TUTAG-DHLTU, revealed that the strike followed years of fruitless engagements with the university's administration and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). Kamwine noted that the payment of Online Teaching Support Allowances (OTSA) has been delayed for 32 months. While the management recently paid two months of the arrears, a significant balance remains unpaid, and no concrete timeline has been provided for clearing the remaining months.

“We’ve been patient for too long. The university management has failed to provide us with a clear timeline for the payment of our OTSA arrears, despite promising to settle them. This is not just a financial issue; it’s about the respect and welfare of the lecturers,” Kamwine stated.

TUTAG further highlighted the delayed disbursement of the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) portion of the End of Service Benefit (ESB) for retired staff. Members have also not received OTSA for the first quarter of 2025 (January to March), adding to the ongoing dissatisfaction within the academic staff.

Kamwine also pointed to the declining state of teaching and learning conditions at DHLTU. “We are working in an environment where basic resources are lacking. Many of our lecture halls lack projectors, the computer lab is poorly equipped, and in the Fashion Design Studio, nearly 200 students have to share just 20 sewing machines. This is not acceptable,” he said.

Despite the frustrations, Kamwine emphasized that the strike is not aimed at the government or the Ministry of Education but directly at DHLTU’s management. He accused the administration of neglecting the needs of both staff and students, citing poor leadership as a major contributing factor.

“The strike is not about the central government. We have no issues with GTEC or the Ministry of Education. The problem lies with DHLTU’s management. We have engaged with them on numerous occasions, but their silence and inaction have left us with no choice,” Kamwine added.

TUTAG has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the university's management and is open to adjusting the academic calendar to recover lost contact hours. However, Kamwine made it clear that the strike would continue until the association's demands are met.

“We want to find a resolution, but the university must take immediate action. Until then, our strike will continue,” he concluded.

As the strike continues, the academic future at DHLTU hangs in the balance, with lecturers and students awaiting management's response to the ongoing crisis.