The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) says its ongoing industrial action is expected to significantly disrupt key administrative and professional services across public universities in Ghana.

The Association says the strike will affect critical operations including salary processing, admissions, procurement, promotions, appointments and other human resource functions.

GAUA General Secretary, Charles Kojo Aidoo, explained in an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse on Monday, August 10 that the association represents professionals who perform essential functions in the administration and operation of universities.

According to him, the withdrawal of their services will have a direct impact on the day-to-day running of university campuses.

“All the accountants in the university, so it means salaries are not going to be processed. All payments are not going to be processed in the university. All admissions, new admissions, are not going to be processed,” he said.

“No promotion, no appointment are going to be done in the university,” he added.

Mr Aidoo said the impact of the strike extends beyond administrative offices, as several professionals within the universities are members of GAUA. He listed engineers, architects, lawyers and medical doctors among the professionals who are withdrawing their services.

“All the engineers, architects are not going to work. All the medical doctors in the universities are not going to work. All the lawyers in the universities are going to lay down their tools and not going to work,” he said.

He also noted that faculty officers responsible for supporting the administration of various faculties would not be working during the industrial action.

The development could therefore affect a wide range of university operations, from financial administration and procurement to human resource management and professional services.

The strike follows longstanding concerns by GAUA over what it describes as disparities in remuneration between teaching and non-teaching staff.

Mr Aidoo said the Association believes non-teaching staff are being undervalued despite their professional qualifications, experience and responsibilities.

He cited market premium disparities involving senior university administrators and assistant lecturers as an example of the concerns.

According to him, an assistant lecturer receives a market premium of about GH¢7,400, while the registrar of a university and the director of finance receive approximately GH¢6,000 each.

GAUA argues that such disparities do not adequately reflect the responsibilities and professional qualifications of non-teaching staff.