The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has criticised the tone of a directive by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) ordering public universities to reopen by Friday and resume academic activities by Monday at the latest.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight, GAUA President Reverend Amoah Karikari described the language of the directive as “unprofessional” and urged the Commission to respect the governance structures of public universities.
He said the association had no objection to GTEC directing institutions under its regulatory authority to resume operations but stressed that the directive would not automatically bring GAUA’s ongoing strike to an end.
“We don’t have a problem. But I must be quick to say that the tone of the letter is not professional,” he said.
“GTEC cannot and should not behave as if it is a headmaster remote controlling vice chancellors and university council,” he added.
Rev. Karikari clarified that GAUA did not necessarily consider the letter insulting but believed its language was excessive and inappropriate.
GAUA maintains conditions for ending strike
The GAUA president reiterated that the association would call off its strike only after receiving a letter from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) addressing its demand for a market premium.
He explained that the condition formed part of an agreement reached at the association’s last meeting with the Minister of Education.
According to him, until the FWSC provides the required written response, the association’s industrial action will remain unresolved, regardless of GTEC’s directive to reopen the universities.
GTEC orders public universities to resume operations
The dispute follows a directive from GTEC ordering all public universities to reopen by Friday and resume academic work by Monday at the latest.
While GAUA has indicated that it does not oppose the reopening directive itself, its leadership maintains that the separate dispute over the market premium must be addressed before the strike can be called off.
