The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed Vice-Chancellors and other senior management officials in public universities to immediately return to work. GTEC stated these officials are ineligible to participate in the ongoing industrial action by university administrators.
This directive, issued on August 17, 2026, targets senior management officials whose roles are classified as executive, managerial, or policy-making. These positions include Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, and Directors of Finance. GTEC noted with concern that some officials in these excluded positions had joined the strike.
The current industrial action by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) began on August 10, 2026. GAUA initiated the strike due to persistent disparities in market premiums and related allowances between teaching and non-teaching senior members. This dispute highlights long-standing issues within Ghana's public university system regarding compensation equity and labour relations. The Technical University Senior Administrators’ Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) also supports the strike, citing similar grievances.
GTEC Deputy Director-General, Professor Augustine Ocloo, emphasized that the affected officials must return to work due to the nature of their functions and responsibilities. The Commission cited specific provisions of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), particularly Sections 163 and 170. It also referenced Section 20 of the Labour Regulations, 2007 (L.I. 1833), and the National Labour Commission Regulations, 2006 (L.I. 1822). These legal frameworks restrict workers in executive, managerial, or policy-making positions from participating in industrial action. Their functions align with the interests of management and the employer, creating a potential conflict of loyalty during strikes. GTEC further clarified that such officials owe a fiduciary duty to their employers, especially those under contractual arrangements.
GTEC has demanded that Vice-Chancellors submit a register of all senior management officials who joined the strike and failed to comply with the order. This register must be provided within 48 hours of receiving the directive. The Commission also instructed public universities to ensure that the strike does not disrupt essential institutional and student services. These critical services include end-of-semester examinations, auditing, telecommunications, and internet services. Student portals, registration systems, healthcare, cleaning, and janitorial services must also remain operational. Furthermore, the processing of salaries and other payments should continue without interruption. GTEC reported attempts to disrupt internet access, student portals, and health services on some campuses. It warned that any unlawful disruption of essential services could constitute a breach of the Labour Act. The Commission remains committed to supporting an amicable resolution of the grievances. It urged both GAUA and TUSAAG to exercise restraint and responsibility as efforts continue to resolve the dispute.