Students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) found themselves stranded on campus as the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-Ghana) initiated a nationwide strike, resulting in the closure of vital facilities.
TEWU-Ghana declared an indefinite strike following an emergency meeting over the government's alleged failure to fulfil financial obligations, including extra-duty and car maintenance allowances, and Tier-2 pension funds. National President Sulemana Abdul-Rahman emphasized the importance of total compliance among the over 10,000 members across public universities, stressing that task forces would ensure enforcement.
“The local leaders, it is their duty to make sure that the strike action is enforced. And any loyal member of TEWU-Ghana, they're rather angry and pushing us to declare this strike,” Abdul-Rahman emphasized.
The strike's impact was immediately felt at KNUST, where students were barred from accessing essential facilities such as the library and lecture halls. Disappointed students were observed loitering around campus, unable to attend classes or utilize academic resources.
President of TEWU-Ghana KNUST, Charles Arthur, expressed satisfaction with the compliance while warning of potential campus closures if the government fails to address their grievances.
“We are on strike, and if we're on strike we don't come to work. It will affect them [the students] because they will not have access to come to the library,” Arthur explained. He further asserted that prolonged inaction from the government could compel university management to shut down campuses.
