Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has urged striking university administrators to call off their industrial action, requesting a one-month grace period for the government to settle their unpaid claims.
Speaking on Monday, August 17, 2026, during a meeting with representatives from the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and the Technical University Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG), Mr Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the dispute. A primary trigger for the walkout is the non-payment of a one-off research allowance owed to non-teaching senior staff across public universities.
“I want you to give me one month to resolve the issues, and I want you to furnish me with the data to help the resolution,” the Minister stated.
To expedite matters, Mr Iddrisu instructed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to supply comprehensive beneficiary data by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18. This information will allow the Ministry of Finance to audit and validate the figures prior to disbursing the funds. Referring to an April 24, 2026 directive from Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem, Mr Iddrisu noted that accurate data remains essential for releasing payments.
Addressing a recent correspondence from GTEC that contained both “friendly and unfriendly” elements, the Minister suggested those specific matters be handled separately, appealing again for staff to resume duty while negotiations continue.
The current strike, which commenced on August 11, 2026, stems from long-standing grievances including salary disparities, market premium adjustments, and unpaid allowances. The disruption has already impacted operations across public campuses, forcing institutions such as the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) to postpone scheduled examinations.
Although TUSAAG had temporarily called off a previous strike on December 22, 2025, following ministerial mediation, the group resumed action after the government missed successive payment deadlines set for March 30 and late April 2026.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
