A group of non-teaching unions in Ghana’s public universities has called for the immediate suspension and review of a retirement policy issued by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

The group warned that failure to withdraw the directive could disrupt the academic calendar.

In a joint statement signed by union leaders including Michael Owusu Ansah, George Ansong, Stanley Abopaam, Salamatu Braimah, Ken Yelibo and Gerard Anamjonga, the unions described the GTEC policy as “unfair, arbitrary and discriminatory” against non-teaching employees.

The unions insisted they were not consulted before the policy was developed, arguing that the directive was imposed without engagement with representatives of affected staff.

They also rejected the impression that non-teaching employees do not matter in the governance and management of public universities.

According to the statement, the policy seeks to amend existing conditions of service and university statutes that allow staff to roll over their retirement to the end of the academic year.

The unions argued that universities have already issued retirement letters to staff, indicating the dates they are expected to exit, and that these notices have shaped how affected workers have planned their lives and prepared for retirement in line with the academic calendar.

They described the new directive as an “offence” to staff who have made retirement plans based on the earlier timelines.

The unions have therefore issued a two-week ultimatum, warning that if the policy is not withdrawn within that period and staff are forced to retire in their month of birth instead of at the end of the academic year, they will “advise themselves.”

The statement concluded with a call for urgent action to prevent tensions and avoid disruptions to activities at Ghana’s public universities.