Public universities in the country are expected to face major disruptions as members of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) withdraw their services over concerns about disparities in remuneration between teaching and non-teaching staff.

The industrial action is expected to affect a range of critical university operations, including salary processing, admissions, procurement, promotions, appointments and other human resource functions.

GAUA strike: Public universities face major operational paralysis

According to the General Secretary of GAUA, Charles Kojo Aidoo, the impact of the strike would be felt across various aspects of university administration because the Association represents professionals who perform essential functions in the running of public universities.

Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews monitored by GhanaWeb on August 11, 2026, he said the withdrawal of services by accountants, in particular, would affect salary payments and other financial transactions.

“All the accountants in the university [are involved], 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, all procurement, HR issues, no appointments are not going to be done in the university,” he stated.

According to him, the industrial action extends beyond administrative staff, with several professionals working in public universities also belonging to GAUA.

He listed engineers, architects, lawyers and medical doctors among professionals who would withdraw their services as part of the action.

“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.

Aidoo further noted that faculty officers responsible for supporting the administration of various faculties would also not be working during the industrial action.


Why GAUA is striking

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

Aidoo said non-teaching staff were being undervalued despite possessing professional qualifications, experience and responsibilities comparable to those of teaching staff.

He cited differences in market premiums received by senior university administrators and assistant lecturers as an example.

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 adequately reflect the responsibilities and professional qualifications of senior non-teaching staff.

The Association is therefore calling for a review of the remuneration structure to address what it considers unfair disparities between teaching and non-teaching professionals in Ghana’s public universities.

JKB/VPO

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