The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has threatened to go on a nationwide strike following a directive by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on the payment of allowances of officeholders in public universities in Ghana with effect from September 1, 2023.

According to the association, at the August 17, 2023, emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) letter of July 17, 2023, with reference number HA42/1/01 directing the implementation of decisions on payment of allowances of Officeholders in public universities in Ghana with effect from September 1, 2023, was discussed among others.

GAUA considered the directive to be in bad faith and an unfair labour practice as it failed to involve the Labour Unions as important stakeholders who are going to be affected by the directive. It revealed that it is concerned about the hurried implementation of the said directive and the potential chaos with adverse variations in the conditions of service of affected members of the association who had been duly appointed to positions of management.

“The GAUA NEC further declares its intention to embark on a nation-wide strike action effective August 31, 2023, should the obnoxious GTEC directive be maintained. Notice of an intended GAUA national strike action is hereby served.”
Ghana Association of University Administrators

Administrative structure in public universities

Contained in a statement signed by its President, Dr Mrs. Beth Offei-Awuku, GAUA stated that re-engineering of the administrative structures in the public universities is a “grave” task that should be done in a meticulous and unhurried manner to preserve vital university data and institutional memory for posterity.

Furthermore, GAUA indicated that it was emphatic on the administrative body responsible for designing the organizational structures and placements of staff into positions of management in public universities is and remains the Governing Councils.

Additionally, it highlighted that GAUA will resist any attempt by GTEC to interfere in the micro-management of its universities.

“Considering all the above, the GAUA NEC, by this communique demands the immediate suspension of this GTEC directive and its implementation to allow for constructive engagement by all relevant stakeholders.”
Ghana Association of University Administrators

It will be recalled that in 2021, the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), threatened to embark on a similar strike action over attempts by the Finance Ministry to halt the payments of allowances of some members.

GAUA stated that the action was its response to the government if it went ahead to withhold the allowances of some members who have been described as “unqualified office holders in the public universities”.

Also, the association said that it had petitioned the Finance Ministry over the halt in allowances but was adamant in being considerate.

The group pointed out that the officers of the grade of Assistant Registrars or their equivalents are fully qualified in running universities for years, thus, it is unfortunate to be tagged as unqualified to be denied allowances.

It equally noted that the non-payment of the allowances would have dire consequences on the affected persons.