Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has appealed to striking members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, UTAG, and other senior staff in academia to suspend their industrial action, as government moves to resolve their concerns.

Speaking at the presentation of the University of Ghana Medical Centre Transition Committee report, Mr Iddrisu said President John Dramani Mahama has acted in good faith by upholding academic freedom and non-interference in university affairs.

“While the President is honouring his word to the academic community, I do not think we are reciprocating the gesture kindly enough,” he said.

He acknowledged that the issues raised by the striking staff are legitimate, particularly outstanding Tier Two pension arrears.

According to him, government inherited arrears of about one billion cedis, of which “about 396 million cedis has already been paid, with the remaining balance currently being processed.”

Mr Iddrisu also disclosed that discussions are ongoing on retirement age provisions to allow affected academics to complete the academic calendar without disruption, in line with the Constitution.

On the University of Ghana Medical Centre, the education minister recalled President Mahama’s pledge to hand over the facility to the University of Ghana to support medical training and research and position it as a centre of excellence. He said the presentation of the committee’s report marks “a critical step in fulfilling that promise.”

He added that government would study the report and make recommendations to the President, including the possible establishment of an interim management committee to oversee UGMC under the supervision of the University of Ghana.

Mr Iddrisu commended the Transition Committee for “the commendable work they have done” and reaffirmed President Mahama’s broader reform agenda, including reducing the size of government, strengthening healthcare through MahamaCare, and repositioning UGMC once Cabinet and Parliament grant the necessary approvals.