The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Dr George Smith-Graham, has expressed surprise that the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) continues to embark on strike despite signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Commission to facilitate further discussions on salary disparities.
Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show on Monday, October 12, 2026, Dr Smith-Graham said negotiations with GAUA had been concluded and the association had received its agreed payments, although the Commission had committed to examining fresh proposals to address its concerns.
He explained that the government had prioritised efforts to address disparities in the Single Spine Salary Structure, with the FWSC and the Ministry of Finance working to correct inequalities across public sector institutions.
As part of the broader exercise, the Commission has concluded negotiations with 58 institutions, including GAUA.
“We have concluded negotiations with 58 institutions, including GAUA. We have signed an agreement with GAUA, concluded the negotiations with GAUA, and they have been paid,” he said.
UTAG negotiations cited as source of dissatisfaction
Dr Smith-Graham attributed GAUA’s decision to embark on strike to concerns that the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) had secured more favourable terms in its negotiations with the government.
According to him, GAUA became dissatisfied after learning that UTAG had also negotiated with the government and believed the teachers’ association had received a better deal.
“Immediately they noticed that UTAG had also come for their negotiations, then they said UTAG got more than them; and because UTAG got more than them, they declared a strike,” he stated.
FWSC agrees to consider fresh proposals
The FWSC CEO disclosed that GAUA representatives had visited his office about a week earlier, during which both parties signed an MoU to allow further discussions on the association’s concerns.
“When GAUA raised the issue, GAUA came to my office about a week ago. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding with me,” he said.
He explained that he had asked the association to submit proposals outlining how the identified salary disparities could be addressed.
“I said, give me some proposals on how we can resolve these inequities. We are also interested in resolving the inequities. We will study your proposal,” he added.
Dr Smith-Graham stressed that the agreement to consider additional proposals did not mean the earlier salary negotiations with GAUA remained unresolved.
FWSC CEO questions continuation of strike
The Commission’s CEO said he had expected GAUA to suspend its industrial action following the understanding reached at the meeting, which was intended to give the FWSC time to examine the association’s proposals.
He said he was therefore surprised to learn on Friday that the strike was still ongoing.
“They signed that we are going to call off the strike, that they are giving us the time, only for me to hear on Friday that ‘we are still on strike’,” he lamented.
“That really surprised me, because they came to sign an MoU with me,” he added.
Dr Smith-Graham reiterated that the Commission would examine GAUA’s proposals and provide a response by the end of October.
He maintained that the earlier negotiations had been concluded and the agreed payments made, while reaffirming the FWSC’s willingness to consider proposals aimed at addressing the remaining concerns over salary disparities.
