The ongoing industrial action by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) is set to hit the backbone of operations in Ghana’s public universities, with several professionals responsible for keeping campuses running expected to withdraw their services.

The strike means some universities could struggle to process salaries and payments, admit new students, approve promotions and appointments, undertake procurement and perform other essential administrative duties.

GAUA declares indefinite nationwide strike

GAUA General Secretary, Charles Kojo Aidoo, said the impact could extend into professional services, with engineers, architects, lawyers and medical doctors affiliated with the Association also joining the action.

Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews on Monday, August 10 2026, Mr Aidoo explained that GAUA members perform functions that are central to the daily running of public universities.

“All the accountants in the university, so it means salaries are not going to be processed. All payments are not going to be processed in the university. All admissions, new admissions, are not going to be processed,” he said.

He added:

“No promotion, no appointment is going to be done in the university,” he added.

Mr Aidoo said the withdrawal of services will not be confined to university administration offices, as several professionals within the institutions are also members of GAUA.

“All the engineers, architects are not going to work. All the medical doctors in the universities are not going to work. All the lawyers in the universities are going to lay down their tools and not going to work,” he said.

Faculty officers who support the administration of various faculties are also expected to stay away from work, potentially affecting activities at different levels of the universities.

The industrial action follows longstanding concerns by GAUA over what it describes as disparities in remuneration between teaching and non-teaching staff.

Mr Aidoo said non-teaching professionals believe their qualifications, experience and responsibilities are not being adequately recognised in the current remuneration structure.

He cited market premium disparities between senior university administrators and assistant lecturers as one of the issues fuelling the dispute.

According to him, an assistant lecturer receives a market premium of about GH¢7,400, while a university registrar and director of finance receive approximately GH¢6,000 each.

GAUA argues that the disparity does not fairly reflect the level of responsibility and professional expertise required of senior non-teaching staff and is demanding a review of the situation.

NA/

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