GAUA Resumes Strike Over Market Premium Disparities
The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has reactivated its suspended strike action, directing all members in public universities to stay away from work effective Monday, August 10, 2026.
The decision was taken at the Association’s National Congress held in Sunyani on Friday, August 7, 2026, according to a statement signed by the General Secretary and released on the same day.
GAUA said the strike is in response to what it described as “widening disparities” in Market Premium and related allowances between Teaching Senior Members and Non-Teaching Senior Members.
The Association noted that while it fully supports improvements in the conditions of service for Teaching Senior Members, such improvements should not result in unfair and discriminatory treatment of Non-Teaching Senior Members.
GAUA explained that prior to the recent review in 2026, Market Premium for all Senior Members had been harmonised at 114% under the Single Spine Salary Structure since 2012 to ensure equity.
Following an agreement signed with Government on April 22, 2026, which took retrospective effect from 1st April 2026, Non-Teaching Senior Members received a 40% increase in consolidated Market Premium and Non-Basic Allowances. However, GAUA said a substantial gap remains.
According to the Association, a Teaching Senior Member now receives approximately GH₵10,000.00 in Market Premium on average, while a Non-Teaching Senior Member receives approximately GH₵4,718.00 — a difference of about GH₵5,282.00 within the same analogous pay structure.
GAUA further stated that even the lowest-ranked Teaching Senior Member, an Assistant Lecturer, now receives a higher Market Premium than the highest-ranked Non-Teaching Senior Member, such as a Registrar or Finance Officer.
The Congress described the disparities as inconsistent with the principles of fairness and the objectives of the Single Spine Pay Policy, and warned that the growing inequality threatens staff morale, industrial harmony, and the effective administration of public universities.
GAUA said it had written to the National Labour Commission and other relevant state institutions on July 16, 2026, to seek intervention, but had not received a response to date.
The Association emphasised that its position is not against Teaching Senior Members, but is a call for equitable treatment for all Senior Members based on transparent and consistent principles.
“Accordingly, all members of GAUA are directed to stay away from work until further notice, pending the satisfactory resolution of the issues in dispute,” the statement concluded.
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