Professor Gordon Awandare warns GAUA strike could collapse UG academic calendar

Professor Gordon Awandare, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, has cautioned that the 2026/2027 academic calendar faces imminent collapse if the ongoing strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) is not resolved. The industrial action, which has persisted for over two months, has brought essential administrative functions to a standstill, directly threatening the start of teaching activities scheduled for October 19. Management has expressed grave concern that the continued strike will disrupt critical registration deadlines and broader university operations.

The strike, initiated in August, centers on unresolved grievances regarding conditions of service and disparities in allowances. According to GAUA, these issues have remained largely unaddressed since 2008. The association’s National General Secretary, Charles Jojo Aidoo, reported that two months of negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) have yielded minimal progress. The administrators have expressed significant frustration, noting that the government has yet to provide concrete solutions to their mostly non-monetary concerns, leaving many members disillusioned.

The paralysis of administrative services has already impacted thousands of students, particularly those attempting to navigate the course registration process. Beyond the University of Ghana, the strike has affected other public universities across the country, creating a ripple effect in the higher education sector. While GAUA leadership remains open to discussions and has expressed hope that a resolution might be reached by the end of October, university management continues to appeal to the government for a swift intervention to restore normalcy before the academic cycle is compromised further.