Academic and administrative activities at technical universities across Ghana are facing disruption following the resumption of an indefinite strike by the Technical University Senior Administrators’ Association of Ghana (TUSAAG).
The Association said the absence of senior administrators would significantly affect the daily operations of the universities because they play a central role in institutional administration.
Speaking on A1 Radio, TUSAAG National President Stanley Akamiri Abopaam explained that senior members are responsible for critical administrative functions, including academic administration, policy implementation and institutional management.
He clarified that senior members are a category of university staff, not simply older employees, and include assistant registrars, registrars, directors and other senior administrative officers.
“From the rank of junior assistant registrar to the registrar and directors, everybody within this category falls under senior members,” he said.
According to Mr. Abopaam, senior administrators work closely with academic staff to ensure the effective operation of universities.
“We are like doctors and nurses. The absence of one category affects the output of the other,” he said.
He argued that while lecturers often receive greater public attention because of their teaching roles, administrators provide the systems that enable teaching, learning and other university activities.
Mr. Abopaam acknowledged that the strike would disrupt university operations but said members had been left with no alternative after years of unresolved concerns.
“Every effect is an effect. What is affecting us is painful, and if what is affecting us is not addressed, we cannot pretend that its impact on others should not matter,” he said.
The Association resumed the strike after suspending an earlier industrial action in December 2025 following an appeal by the Minister of Education, who requested more time to facilitate payment of the outstanding allowance.
Mr. Abopaam said members agreed to suspend the strike after the government committed to resolving the matter by March 2026.
However, he said the deadline passed without payment, and the Association granted further extensions, including until the end of April.
According to him, the continued lack of progress prompted TUSAAG to resume the strike.
The National Labour Commission has reportedly directed the government to take immediate steps to resolve the dispute and avert the industrial action, but TUSAAG says it has yet to receive a concrete response.
The Association maintains that it will only suspend the strike after the government fulfils its financial obligations.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
