The University for Development Studies (UDS) branch of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA-UDS) has declared an indefinite strike effective Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

The industrial action follows a directive issued by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on April 28, 2025, instructing the university to halt the payment of office-holding allowances to GAUA-UDS members occupying management and leadership positions.

The directive was reportedly issued without prior consultation or engagement with the affected stakeholders.

In response, GAUA-UDS held an emergency meeting on Monday, May 26, 2025, during which members unanimously resolved to withdraw all services and responsibilities. The association described GTEC’s directive as an act of bad faith.

Unilateral decision

Addressing a press conference in Tamale, the President of GAUA-UDS, Dr Stephany Adongo, criticised GTEC for acting unilaterally.

She said the directive contravened existing conditions of service and violated the principles of fairness, dialogue, and mutual respect.

Dr Adongo further highlighted inconsistencies in GTEC’s actions, pointing out that the same Commission had previously approved the office-holding positions in a letter dated 18 September 2023. She questioned why GTEC would reverse its own decision without any form of stakeholder engagement.

She also revealed that the GAUA National Executive Committee had written to the Minister of Education on 25 April 2025, seeking intervention, but no response or resolution had been received as of yet.

Impact

According to Dr Adongo, the withdrawal of the allowances has had a significant impact on members of the association, some of whom are now unable to meet basic living expenses until the next salary cycle.

She outlined the association’s demands, which include the immediate reversal of the GTEC directive, payment of all withheld allowances, and the establishment of a ministerial committee to develop a comprehensive framework for office-holding roles and related welfare matters.

She emphasised that the strike was a measure of last resort, taken only after all efforts at dialogue had failed. The industrial action, she noted, would continue indefinitely until the directive is rescinded.