Academic work at Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU) has ground to a halt after the local branch of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) declared an indefinite strike.

The industrial action, which took effect on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, is rooted in unresolved grievances with the university’s management—chief among them, the long-standing issue of unpaid allowances owed to lecturers.

Speaking to Channel One TV, Samadu Kamwine, Chairman of TUTAG-DHLTU, expressed frustration over years of unsuccessful engagements with both the university administration and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). According to him, lecturers have not received their Online Teaching Support Allowances (OTSA) for 32 months. While management recently cleared two months' worth of the arrears, the majority remains outstanding, and no firm commitment has been made regarding the rest.

“We’ve exercised patience for far too long,” Kamwine stated. “This issue is about more than money—it’s about the dignity and welfare of our members. We’ve been given empty promises, and there’s still no clear roadmap for payment.”

TUTAG is also raising concerns about other unresolved matters, including the delayed payment of the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) portion of the End of Service Benefit (ESB) for retired staff. In addition, lecturers have not received OTSA for the first quarter of 2025 (January to March), further deepening the sense of neglect.

Kamwine also drew attention to worsening conditions on campus. He described a severe lack of basic teaching tools, stating that many lecture halls have no projectors, the computer lab lacks essential equipment, and the Fashion Design Studio—meant to serve nearly 200 students—has only 20 sewing machines.

“This is not just about allowances; it’s about the poor state of teaching and learning at DHLTU,” he emphasized.

Importantly, Kamwine clarified that the strike is not directed at the government or the Ministry of Education, but at the university’s leadership. He accused DHLTU’s management of showing a lack of concern for both staff and students, blaming ineffective leadership for the current crisis.

“Our issue is with the university’s administration. Despite repeated efforts to resolve these problems, their continued silence has left us with no alternative but to withdraw our services,” he explained.

Despite their stance, TUTAG has expressed readiness to return to the negotiation table. The association is open to revising the academic calendar to make up for lost time—on the condition that their demands are swiftly addressed.

“We’re not shutting the door on dialogue,” Kamwine added. “But the university must act now. Until then, the strike continues.”

As the standoff lingers, the academic future of DHLTU students remains uncertain, with many hoping for a swift resolution to restore normalcy on campus.