Education Minister engages university administrators over ongoing strike

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu met with the leadership of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and university management representatives to address ongoing industrial action by public university administrative and professional staff. The discussions centered on key issues such as salary adjustments, market premiums, job evaluation, staff equivalences, conditions of service, outstanding allowances, retirement arrangements, and staff placement.

Iddrisu urged the union to suspend the strike and resume negotiations, promising to work with the Ministry of Finance, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and other institutions to resolve the outstanding matters. A major concern for GAUA was the treatment of a negotiated salary adjustment as an interim market premium, to which the minister agreed and pledged to engage the relevant commission.

The meeting also addressed the one-time research allowance owed to non-teaching senior staff, with Iddrisu confirming government's commitment to payment upon submission of validated data. Staff equivalences, historical arrangements, step-down arrangements, and staff placement were further discussed, with both sides expressing concerns over their implications for salaries and pensions.

The union's National President and Rev. Kweku Kakereyamwa acknowledged the meeting as positive but confirmed the strike remains in effect, with a promise to consult members and revert to Iddrisu within 48 hours.