Senior Administrators defend the strike , saying without them the universities’ system cannot work

Academic and administrative activities in Ghana’s technical universities are facing disruptions following the resumption of an indefinite strike by the Technical University Senior Administrators’ Association of Ghana (TUSAAG).

The Association says the absence of senior administrators will significantly affect the daily operations of the universities because they serve as the backbone of institutional administration.

Explaining the structure of university administration, TUSAAG National President Stanley Akamiri Abopaam on A1 Radio monitored by BolgaFM, said senior members are responsible for critical administrative functions ranging from academic management to policy implementation.

He clarified that senior members are not simply older employees but a category of university workers, including 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 explained.

According to him, these administrators work closely with academic staff to ensure universities function effectively.

“We are like doctors and nurses. The absence of one category affects the output of the other,” he said.

Mr Abopaam argued that while lecturers often receive public attention because of their teaching roles, administrators provide the systems that allow academic work to take place.

He said the strike would naturally affect university calendars but argued that members were compelled to act after years of being overlooked.

“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 stated.

The Association’s decision to resume the strike followed an earlier industrial action in December 2025, which was suspended after the Education Minister appealed for more time to facilitate payment of the outstanding allowance.

Mr Abopaam said members agreed to suspend the strike after government committed to resolving the issue by March 2026.

However, he said when the deadline passed without payment, further extensions were granted, including additional time until the end of April.

He said the lack of progress after those extensions left members with no alternative.

The National Labour Commission has reportedly directed government to take immediate steps to resolve the matter and avert the strike, but TUSAAG says it has received no concrete response.

The Association insists it will only suspend the strike when government fulfils its financial obligations.

Source: bolgafmonline.com|102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga