By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Dr. George Smith-Graham, has condemned the leadership of the Senior Staff Association of the University of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Federation of University Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU-TUC) for urging their members to embark on an unjustified industrial action.
Commenting on the ongoing indefinite strike by members of SSA-UoG, FUSSAG, and TEWU-TUC, which began on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM and monitored by GBCGHANAONLINE, Dr. Smith-Graham stated categorically that overtime work under the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) has never been compulsory and was designed primarily for junior staff.
He explained that senior staff are, by policy, entitled to a “call-in allowance” rather than overtime pay.
Dr. Smith-Graham further argued that the strike, which has disrupted academic activities across public universities, is unwarranted, stressing that staff are refusing to perform their regular eight-hour duties over disagreements relating to overtime allowances.
The FWSC CEO stated emphatically that his outfit has not altered any conditions of service as alleged by the striking unions, describing their claims as unfounded.
“The Single Spine Pay Policy started in 2010, when we introduced unified conditions of service, including what we refer to as category two and three allowances. Under these allowances, there is overtime and call-in. Overtime is meant for junior staff, while senior staff receive call-in allowance. So, it cannot be said that we have varied conditions of service. This has existed since 2010,” he emphasised.
Dr. Smith-Graham further stressed that overtime work is not mandatory and must be determined by management, not imposed by staff.
“Overtime is not compulsory, so I am surprised they say they are on strike because they want to do overtime. You cannot force yourself to do overtime on any management. Overtime has to be determined by a superior officer. What is even more concerning is that they are on strike and therefore not working the eight hours they are paid for. I am surprised university management has allowed the strike to continue,” he added.
Dr. Smith-Graham, however, maintained that the Commission has acted strictly within the framework of the 2010 policy and urged university management to take responsibility for ensuring staff return to work. He warned that prolonging the strike over what he described as a misinterpretation of policy risks further disruption to education and public service delivery.
The FWSC CEO also criticised university management for allowing staff to continue their ongoing strike, insisting that the industrial action is unjustified.
The Senior Staff Association of the University of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Federation of University Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU-TUC) began an indefinite strike on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The unions argue that the FWSC has replaced overtime allowances with a call-in allowance in breach of a 2021 agreement, a move they say undermines staff rights.
They are also demanding the payment of salary arrears owed to staff of recently upgraded universities, as well as five months of outstanding Tier Two pension contributions.
