Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu is expected to meet the leadership of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) this week as the government steps up efforts to resolve the association’s ongoing strike.

The industrial action follows concerns over disparities in Market Premium and other related allowances between teaching and non-teaching senior members of public universities.

GAUA has maintained that the differences in remuneration must be addressed to ensure fairness among university staff.

The planned meeting is expected to bring together the Education Ministry, GAUA and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to explore possible solutions to the impasse.

Government is hoping that the discussions will help address the concerns raised by the association and pave the way for an end to the strike.

Speaking to Citi FM, the Education Minister’s spokesperson, Hashmin Mohammed, said the engagement was likely to take place this week.

“I think that meeting should happen sometime this week so that we can find a solution to this issue,” he said.

GAUA, however, has warned that it will not suspend its industrial action based solely on assurances from government, insisting that any engagement must produce concrete measures to address its concerns.

The President of the University of Ghana chapter of GAUA, Michael Owusu Ansah, said the association had become sceptical of promises without clear commitments and timelines.

“If it is going to be ‘trust me and give me time and I will come back to you,’ I’m afraid this time GAUA may not be persuaded by words,” he said.