Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) says its members have been working without a formal condition of service since 2008, describing the situation as a major concern that has been allowed to persist for far too long.

The Association says the absence of an updated condition of service, coupled with disparities in allowances between teaching and non-teaching staff, has contributed significantly to its decision to embark on industrial action.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse on Monday, August 10, the GAUA General Secretary, Charles Kojo Aidoo, said the association submitted proposals on its conditions of service to government but was informed that government was not prepared to negotiate a comprehensive agreement.

"We met our employers and they told us that there was an independent emolument commission coming into force. So government is not going to negotiate for any condition of service. Can you believe that we don't have a condition of service from 2008.

From 2008 we have been working without a condition of service. We submitted a proposal on our condition of service to government, and they told us that they are not negotiating on any condition of service, but they will only negotiate with us on some few allowance to make some modest adjustment to some allowance pending the independent development commission," he said.

Mr Aidoo explained that the agreed adjustments were expected to take effect from April 2026, but the implementation process has since become a major source of concern for the association.

He said the Ministry of Finance was expected to provide the necessary approval for the agreed allowances to be implemented.

The strike comes amid concerns over what GAUA describes as significant disparities between the market premiums paid to teaching and non-teaching staff.

Mr Aidoo cited the example of an assistant lecturer who, according to him, receives a market premium of about GH¢7,400, compared with approximately GH¢6,000 for a university registrar and director of finance.

He argued that the disparity does not adequately reflect the professional qualifications, responsibilities and experience of non-teaching staff.

GAUA maintains that market premiums should be determined through proper job evaluation rather than being based solely on whether an employee is teaching or non-teaching staff.

The association says it is seeking a fairer remuneration structure that recognises the professional responsibilities and qualifications of university administrators and other non-teaching staff.

Mr Aidoo stressed that the action is not intended to compete with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), but rather to ensure that non-teaching staff receive what they believe they deserve.

The association says it remains open to negotiations but wants government and the relevant institutions to address the outstanding concerns.