The Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), demanding a reversal of its recent directive instructing traditional public universities to swear in representatives from the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU-TUC) onto their Governing Councils.

The ultimatum follows a letter from GTEC dated 18 June 2025, which formally recognised TEWU-TUC as the sole body authorised to represent workers on the Governing Councils of public traditional universities. In the same letter, GTEC directed all affected universities to immediately swear in TEWU-TUC representatives and grant them full Council member privileges.

Additionally, GTEC instructed members of TEWU-GH to refrain from presenting themselves as Council members, even in cases where they had already been sworn in.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, 24 June, the National Chairman of TEWU-GH, Sulemana Abdul Rahaman—who also chairs the union’s local branch at the University for Development Studies (UDS)—firmly rejected the directive.

He argued that the bargaining certificate held by TEWU-TUC does not invalidate the legitimacy of TEWU-GH or its right to representation.

“This decision by GTEC not only undermines union pluralism but also violates due process and established protocols,” Mr Abdul Rahaman said.

He further accused GTEC of overstepping its mandate and appealed to the broader labour community to promote unity.

“Going forward, with respect for democratic, evenhanded choices, we are calling on all labour fraternity to talk to brother Joshua Ansah to stop certain utterances that do not bring unity to the labour front,” he added.

TEWU-GH has given GTEC until the end of the seven-day window to reverse its directive or face further action.