Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu meets GAUA over the ongoing university administrators’ strike as salary, job evaluation and allowances remain unresolved.
Accra, Ghana | August 17, 2026
The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has engaged representatives of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and university management in an effort to resolve the issues underlying the ongoing strike by administrative and professional staff in Ghana’s public universities.
The meeting focused on a range of outstanding concerns, including salary adjustments, market premium, job evaluation, staff equivalences, conditions of service, unpaid allowances and retirement arrangements.
Although the engagement was described as positive and fruitful, the strike remains in force. GAUA leadership said it would consult its members on the outcome of the meeting before deciding whether to suspend the industrial action.
Information Box
| Key Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Issue | Ongoing university administrative and professional staff strike |
| Union | Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) |
| Minister | Hon. Haruna Iddrisu |
| Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Main Focus | Salary, job evaluation, allowances, equivalences and conditions of service |
| Research Allowance | Government commitment to facilitate payment |
| Strike Status | Ongoing |
| Next Step | GAUA consultations with members |
| Consultation Period | Union leadership said it would respond within 48 hours |
Education Minister Appeals for Suspension of Strike
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu appealed to the striking university administrative and professional staff to consider calling off the strike and returning to the negotiating table.
The Minister assured the representatives that he was prepared to engage the Ministry of Finance, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and other relevant institutions to help address the outstanding concerns.
He stressed the importance of restoring stability on university campuses, particularly as institutions prepare for the new academic year.
The Minister also pointed to efforts made to restore Ghana’s academic calendar following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged stakeholders to protect the progress made in returning university academic activities to a more stable schedule.
➡ Related: Ghana’s Public Universities: Complete Guide to Institutions, Programmes and Admissions
➡ Related: Fair Wages and Salaries Commission: Functions, Salary Negotiations and Public Sector Pay
Salary Adjustments and Market Premium Discussed
Salary-related concerns featured prominently in the engagement.
The university administrators raised issues concerning salary adjustments and market premium, alongside broader concerns about conditions of service.
Market premium and related remuneration arrangements can have direct implications for the ability of universities to attract and retain experienced administrative and professional personnel.
The discussions therefore sought to address the concerns within the wider framework of public-sector compensation and the conditions governing university employees.
The Minister indicated his willingness to engage the relevant government institutions as discussions continue.
Fresh Job Evaluation Proposed
One of the significant issues raised by GAUA was the call for a fresh job evaluation.
The union argued that existing arrangements were based on earlier evaluations and that changing responsibilities and roles within universities made a new assessment necessary.
The proposal is intended to ensure that current responsibilities are properly reflected in the classification and evaluation of university administrative and professional positions.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu welcomed the proposal and indicated his willingness to engage the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on the possibility of conducting a fresh job evaluation.
➡ Related: Job Evaluation in Ghana’s Public Sector: How Salaries and Grades Are Determined
➡ Related: Public Sector Salary Structure in Ghana: Grades, Allowances and Conditions of Service
Government Addresses Outstanding Research Allowance
The meeting also addressed the outstanding one-time research allowance.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu assured the representatives that government remained committed to facilitating payment of the allowance.
The Minister referred to a letter dated 24 April 2026 from the Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Ampem, requesting validated and disaggregated beneficiary information to facilitate the payment process.
He directed that the required information be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for validation and processing.
The Minister also assured the representatives that he would follow up on the matter.
Staff Equivalences Remain a Major Concern
The long-standing issue of staff equivalences was another major subject discussed during the meeting.
According to the explanation provided during the engagement, existing equivalence arrangements have historical origins and were intended to recognise the complementary roles performed by different categories of university staff.
Prof. Anamoah urged stakeholders to understand the historical basis of the arrangements and cautioned against allowing the matter to become a source of division within the university system.
The issue remains important because equivalence arrangements can influence career progression, remuneration and the relative positioning of different categories of university employees.
Senior Administrative Staff Raise Placement Concerns
Concerns were also raised over the placement of senior administrative and professional officers within universities.
The affected positions include Registrars, Executive Registrars, Finance Directors and other senior officers.
The union indicated that existing placement arrangements could have implications for salaries and pension benefits.
The Minister took note of the concerns and indicated that the relevant matters would be examined.
Further consideration of these issues will involve the institutions responsible for public-sector remuneration, job evaluation and related employment arrangements.
University Management Calls for Return to Work
University management also appealed to the striking staff to consider returning to work while negotiations continue.
Management pointed to the effects of the industrial action on essential university operations, including admissions, administration, teaching and other institutional activities.
The timing of the strike has also heightened concerns because universities are preparing for the new academic year.
A prolonged disruption could affect administrative preparations required for student admissions, registration and the commencement of academic activities.
GAUA Says Strike Has Not Been Called Off
Despite the engagement with the Minister, GAUA leadership made clear that the strike has not been called off.
Stanley Abofam, National President, and Rev. Kweku Kakereyamwa, National President of GAUA, described the meeting as positive and fruitful.
However, they said the union leadership would return to its constituents with the outcome of the discussions and consult members before taking a decision on the way forward.
The union assured the Minister that it would get back to him within 48 hours.
This means that the immediate outcome of the meeting is continued dialogue rather than an immediate suspension of the industrial action.
Minister Urges Restraint and Dialogue
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid statements that could increase tensions.
He stressed that the purpose of the engagement was to find a lasting solution through dialogue.
The Minister’s willingness to engage the Ministry of Finance, FWSC and other institutions places the dispute within a broader government process involving remuneration, job evaluation and conditions of service.
For the university administrators, however, the next major step will be consultation with their members.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step rests with GAUA and its constituents.
The union leadership is expected to present the outcome of the engagement to its members and seek their views on the proposals and assurances provided by the Education Minister.
The union has indicated that it will respond to the Minister within 48 hours.
Until that consultation is completed and a formal decision is announced, university administrative and professional staff remain on strike.
Students and university communities should therefore continue to rely on official announcements from their respective institutions and GAUA for information concerning the status of the industrial action and any changes to university operations.
EducateGhana Analysis
The engagement between the Education Minister, GAUA and university management represents an important attempt to move the dispute from industrial action towards structured negotiation.
Several of the issues raised are long-term matters rather than concerns that can necessarily be resolved through a single meeting. Job evaluation, staff equivalences, salary placement and retirement implications involve institutional and public-sector remuneration frameworks that require coordination among several government bodies.
The research allowance provides a more immediate example of an issue where administrative action, particularly the validation and submission of beneficiary data, could help move the process forward.
The most important development from the meeting is therefore the reopening of direct engagement. However, the fact that GAUA has not yet suspended the strike means that the dispute remains unresolved.
The union’s consultation with its members will be critical. Its decision within the indicated 48-hour period should provide a clearer indication of whether the latest engagement has created sufficient grounds for the industrial action to be suspended or whether further negotiations will be required.
For universities preparing for the new academic year, an early resolution would help reduce uncertainty around admissions, registration and other administrative processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are university administrators on strike in Ghana?
The strike is linked to several unresolved employment and remuneration concerns, including salary adjustments, market premium, job evaluation, staff equivalences, conditions of service, outstanding allowances and retirement arrangements.
2. Who met the Education Minister over the strike?
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu met representatives of GAUA and university management to discuss the issues underlying the industrial action.
3. Has GAUA called off the strike?
No. The union leadership stated that the strike remains in force pending consultations with its members.
4. What did the Education Minister ask the striking workers to do?
He appealed to them to consider suspending the strike and returning to negotiations.
5. What is the fresh job evaluation being requested by GAUA?
GAUA is calling for a new assessment of university administrative and professional positions because it considers existing arrangements to be based on earlier evaluations that may not adequately reflect current responsibilities.
6. What is the one-time research allowance?
It is an outstanding allowance that government has indicated it remains committed to paying to eligible beneficiaries, subject to the required validation and processing of beneficiary information.
7. What information did the Ministry of Finance request?
The Ministry of Finance requested validated and disaggregated beneficiary data to facilitate processing of the outstanding research allowance.
8. What are staff equivalences?
Staff equivalences refer to arrangements that recognise comparable or complementary roles among different categories of university employees.
9. Which senior university officers raised placement concerns?
The concerns include senior administrative and professional officers such as Registrars, Executive Registrars and Finance Directors.
10. What happens next after the meeting?
GAUA leadership will consult its members on the outcome of the meeting and communicate its decision to the Education Minister.
11. When is GAUA expected to respond?
The union leadership said it would get back to the Minister within 48 hours.
12. Will the strike affect the new academic year?
A prolonged strike could affect administrative activities associated with admissions, registration, academic preparations and other essential university operations.
Conclusion
The Education Minister’s engagement with GAUA and university management has reopened direct discussions on the issues behind the ongoing strike by university administrative and professional staff.
The discussions covered salary adjustments, market premium, fresh job evaluation, staff equivalences, conditions of service, the outstanding research allowance and concerns over senior staff placement.
Government has indicated its willingness to engage relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, while GAUA has undertaken to consult its members.
The strike has not been called off. Its continuation or suspension will depend on the outcome of the union’s consultations and subsequent engagement with government.
Article Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Article Type | Education News / Labour Relations |
| Primary Topic | GAUA strike |
| Main Institution | Ministry of Education |
| Union | Ghana Association of University Administrators |
| Education Minister | Hon. Haruna Iddrisu |
| Key Issues | Salary, job evaluation, equivalences, allowances and conditions of service |
| Current Strike Status | Ongoing |
| Next Step | GAUA consultation with members |
| Expected Union Response | Within 48 hours |
| Author | Ferdinand Ellis |
| Reading Time | Approximately 8 minutes |
Author Authority
Education Blogger | Curriculum Specialist | Researcher | Education Policy Analyst | Founder, EducateGhana.com
About the Author
Ferdinand Ellis is an education blogger, curriculum specialist, researcher and education policy analyst. He is the Founder and Editor of EducateGhana.com. His work focuses on curriculum studies, teacher education, education policy, assessment and evidence-based educational reform.
Suggested Internal Links
➡ Ghana’s Public Universities: Complete Guide to Institutions and Programmes
➡ Fair Wages and Salaries Commission: Functions and Public Sector Salary Negotiations
➡ University Education in Ghana: Admissions, Programmes and Academic Calendar
➡ Higher Education Policy in Ghana: Key Reforms and Challenges
Source
Ministry of Education / information supplied for publication concerning the engagement between the Education Minister, GAUA and university management.
Editorial status: The article distinguishes between the government’s assurances and the union’s position. Most importantly, it does not report the strike as suspended because the supplied information expressly states that GAUA has not called off the strike.
