The University for Development Studies (UDS) branch of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has declared an indefinite strike effective Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The decision follows a controversial directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to suspend the payment of office-holding allowances to GAUA-UDS members serving in management and leadership roles.
The directive, issued on April 28, 2025, has been met with significant resistance from the association, which views the move as a violation of long-standing service conditions. The GAUA-UDS leadership expressed dismay that the decision was made without any prior consultation or dialogue, describing it as a breach of trust and an affront to the principles of fairness and mutual respect.
According to GAUA-UDS, the directive also contradicts an earlier decision by GTEC itself. In a letter dated September 18, 2023, GTEC approved the recognition of the same headship positions now affected by the allowance withdrawal. The abrupt reversal has left many members frustrated and financially strained.
The association revealed that 108 of its members have been directly impacted by the cut in allowances. Many are said to be facing financial hardship severe enough to threaten their ability to manage daily expenses until the following payday. This has fueled further resentment, with GAUA-UDS describing the move as inconsiderate and detrimental to staff welfare.
In response, the association convened an emergency meeting on May 26, 2025, where members unanimously agreed to withdraw all services and responsibilities. The strike will remain in force until GTEC rescinds its directive, reinstates the withheld allowances, and initiates steps to establish a ministerial committee to develop a standardized framework for the administration of office-holding allowances and other welfare-related issues.
The leadership also warned that the strike would have significant implications for ongoing academic activities at the University of Development Studies (UDS). GAUA-UDS members are responsible for safeguarding and distributing examination booklets as well as monitoring the setup of examination halls. The withdrawal of these services, therefore, poses a severe disruption to the university’s examination process.
GAUA-UDS maintains that it remains open to constructive engagement but insists that any resolution must include the reversal of the allowance withdrawal and an institutional commitment to fairness and dialogue in the future.
