The ongoing strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) is beginning to affect academic activities at public universities, with the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and some other institutions suspending scheduled examinations.
The industrial action is linked to concerns over differences in Market Premium and related allowances between Teaching Senior Members and Non-Teaching Senior Members.
Speaking to Channel One TV on August 16, 2026, GAUA General Secretary Charles Aidoo warned that the second phase of the strike, which begins this week, could lead to further disruptions to university examinations.
“Some of the universities are writing their exams tomorrow, and there may be some disruptions in our examination. We are told in UHAS, for example, the examination has been suspended. In some other universities, the examination has been suspended,” he said.
Aidoo also questioned the procedures being followed in the organisation of examinations at some universities, saying GAUA had received reports that established processes were not being properly followed.
“We want to tell the general public that the integrity of the examinations being conducted in our universities is questionable, because the procedures and the processes leading to the examinations may be sublime,” he said.
Beyond the examination disruptions, the association is protesting proposed changes to the salary levels of some senior university staff, including registrars and senior medical officers.
Aidoo said some affected staff members were being asked to move from salary level 23L to 22H, despite having remained on the higher level since 2010.
“From 2010 up to now, you are telling our members to drop down the salary level. Meanwhile, you are telling us that you are bringing a new independent employment commission, but you want to disadvantage us as we move into the independent employment commission. And we feel that this is hugely unfair,” he said.
He also raised concerns about retirement arrangements, alleging that some non-teaching staff are removed from active service at 60 while other categories of university employees are allowed to continue working.
Aidoo described the situation as discriminatory and questioned why different retirement conditions should apply to staff within the same university system.
According to him, the broader issue has existed for more than 75 years, with GAUA concerned about changes to the conditions of service of its members.
He said the association had previously raised the matter with the former Education Minister, who established a committee to investigate the concerns, but the process did not produce a resolution.
GAUA has since engaged both the Minister of Labour and the Education Minister over the outstanding issues.
“We’ve complained to the Minister of Labour. We’ve complained to the minister for education. Nothing has been done about it. We’ve spoken about this several times, but it appears nobody wants to listen,” Aidoo said.
He also rejected the suggestion that members should wait until 2028, when the proposed Independent Employment Commission is expected to address some of the concerns.
“What happens now, between now and 2028? Should we sit down for our members to be disadvantaged?” he asked.
Aidoo said GAUA had been pursuing the grievances for more than four years and had previously signed a memorandum of agreement with the former Education Minister, but the agreement failed to resolve the outstanding concerns.
GAUA is expected to meet the Minister of Education on Tuesday, August 17, 2026, as efforts continue to find a solution to the dispute.
Aidoo said, however, that the association would only consider ending the strike if its concerns about fairness and equity were addressed.
“We are calling for fairness. We are calling for equity. We are calling for fairness and equity,” he added.
GAUA began the industrial action on August 11, 2026, citing unresolved concerns over salary arrears and delays in implementing welfare packages.
