Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has engaged the leadership of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and representatives of university management over the ongoing industrial action by administrative and professional staff of public universities.
The meeting focused on key concerns raised by the union, including salary adjustments, market premium, job evaluation, staff equivalences, conditions of service, outstanding allowances, retirement arrangements and staff placement.
Mr Iddrisu appealed to the union to suspend the strike and return to the negotiating table, assuring the leadership that he would engage the Ministry of Finance, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and other relevant institutions to help resolve the outstanding issues.
He said restoring industrial harmony was critical, particularly as universities prepare for the new academic year and work to return the academic calendar to its normal cycle.
A major concern raised by GAUA was the implementation of a negotiated salary adjustment and its treatment as an interim market premium.
The union also called for a fresh job evaluation to ensure that the remuneration of university administrative and professional staff reflects their current responsibilities.
The Education Minister welcomed the proposal for a fresh job evaluation and pledged to engage the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on the matter.
The meeting also discussed the outstanding one-time research allowance owed to non-teaching senior staff of public universities.
Mr Iddrisu assured the union that government remained committed to paying the allowance, citing an April 24, 2026 letter from Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem requesting validated and disaggregated beneficiary data to facilitate the payment.
He subsequently directed that the required information be submitted to the Ministry of Finance and assured the union that he would follow up on the process.
The long-standing issue of staff equivalences also featured prominently in the discussions. Prof. Anamoah explained that the equivalence arrangements were established to recognise the complementary roles of different categories of staff and should not be interpreted as a contest over superiority.
The Minister agreed that the historical basis of the arrangements needed to be properly considered.
GAUA further raised concerns about step-down arrangements and staff placement, particularly involving Registrars, Executive Registrars, Finance Directors and other senior officers, warning of possible implications for salaries and pensions.
Concerns over retirement arrangements and a communication from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) regarding staff participating in the strike were also raised. Mr Iddrisu took note of the concerns and indicated that they would be examined.
Representatives of university management appealed to the striking staff to consider returning to work while negotiations continue, warning that the industrial action was affecting admissions, administration and other essential university activities.
They cautioned that a prolonged strike could further disrupt ongoing efforts to restore the university academic calendar.
Mr Iddrisu urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid statements that could heighten tensions, stressing that the objective of the engagement was to resolve the outstanding issues through dialogue and restore peace and stability across the university system.
At the end of the meeting, GAUA National President Stanley Abofam and Rev. Kweku Kakereyamwa described the engagement as positive and fruitful but confirmed that the strike remains in force.
The union leadership said it would consult its members, present the outcome of the meeting to its constituents and revert to the Education Minister within 48 hours on the way forward.
The engagement ended with a renewed commitment to dialogue as efforts continue to resolve the outstanding concerns and restore industrial harmony across Ghana’s universities.
