University non-teaching staff unions call for the suspension of the GTEC retirement policy.

The Federation of Non-Academic Staff Unions in Universities–Ghana has urged the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to immediately suspend and reassess its recently issued directive on retirement in public universities.

In a letter dated February 6, 2026, and addressed to the Director-General of GTEC, the federation cautioned that implementing the policy could interrupt the academic calendar in public universities nationwide.The unions criticised the directive as unjust, arbitrary, and discriminatory toward non-teaching staff, insisting that it was introduced without prior consultation or engagement with representatives of the affected employees.

They further argued that the policy contradicts existing conditions of service and university statutes, which permit staff to retire at the end of an academic year rather than strictly in their birth month.Rejecting any notion that non-teaching staff play a lesser role in university administration, the unions emphasised that their contributions are essential to the smooth operation of public universities.The letter pointed out that many universities have already issued retirement notices based on academic calendar schedules, allowing staff to make informed personal and professional retirement plans.

According to the federation, enforcing an abrupt change would be unfair and harmful to workers who have structured their transition to retirement around the previous arrangements.The unions warned that if the directive is not withdrawn within two weeks of receiving the letter, they would be compelled to take further steps.“We wish to serve notice that if, within two weeks, the policy is not withdrawn and affected staff are compelled to retire in their month of birth instead of at the end of the academic year, the unions will advise themselves,” the letter stated.

Copies of the correspondence were also sent to the Ministers of Education and Labour, Jobs and Employment, the National Labour Commission, Vice-Chancellors Ghana, and other relevant labour unions within the public university system.