The University of Ghana's 2026/2027 academic calendar is under threat due to the ongoing strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA). If the strike extends into next week, the calendar could be severely disrupted, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Gordon Awandare warned on October 8. Several critical university systems are currently not functioning because they are managed by GAUA members participating in the industrial action.
The strike, which began in August, has already caused significant disruptions to university operations. The University of Ghana suspended first-semester registration for the 2026/2027 academic year due to the strike, affecting students' access to key administrative services. Management apologized for the difficulties with online registration, attributing them to the ongoing industrial action by university administrators.
GAUA has been on strike for over two months, demanding payment of negotiated and approved allowances, as well as addressing disparities in allowances and conditions of service. National General Secretary of GAUA, Charles Jojo Aidoo, stated that the association had been negotiating with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for about two months without significant progress. The association represents professionals working in various capacities within universities, including medical doctors, lawyers, and chartered accountants.
The University of Ghana's academic calendar scheduled Level 100 students to report from October 12 to 13, while continuing students were expected to report from October 15 to 18. Teaching was scheduled to begin on October 19. However, with key administrative systems affected and registration suspended, the university's ability to maintain the existing calendar is increasingly dependent on the resolution of the GAUA strike.
Professor Awandare appealed to the government to urgently resolve the impasse to prevent further disruption to the academic year. He warned that if the strike continues into next week, the academic calendar would be severely disrupted, and the university would have to reorganize. The disruption at the University of Ghana comes amid a wider wave of industrial action in Ghana's education sector, with a teachers' strike also affecting teaching and learning in some basic and secondary schools.
Parents have expressed concern about the impact of the disruptions on students. One parent stated that they had invested a lot in their child's education and felt sad about the outcome, with their child unable to attend school. For now, the University of Ghana has not announced a revised academic calendar, but Professor Awandare's warning means the October 19 start of teaching could be affected if the GAUA strike continues.
The GAUA strike has significant implications for the education sector in Ghana. The association has maintained that it remains open to negotiations and could call off the strike if meaningful progress is made on its outstanding concerns. The government is urged to address the concerns of GAUA to prevent further disruptions to the academic calendar and ensure that students can access quality education.
Key points
- University of Ghana's academic calendar at risk due to GAUA strike.
- GAUA strike affects students' access to key administrative services.
- Government urged to resolve impasse to prevent further disruption to academic year.
