Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has appealed to the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and the Technical University Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) to give the government one month to address their concerns and resolve the issues behind their ongoing industrial action.
The appeal was made during a meeting involving the leadership of the two unions, the Vice-Chancellors’ Ghana and the Education Minister, as part of efforts to resolve the impasse.
Mr Iddrisu asked the unions to provide the government with the necessary data to support efforts to address their concerns.
“I want you to give me one month to resolve the issues, and I want you to furnish me with the data to help the resolution,” the Minister said.
He added that achieving industrial harmony across university campuses remained a priority.
Unions to decide on strike within 48 hours.
Following the meeting, GAUA and TUSAAG requested 48 hours to consult their respective members before deciding whether to suspend or continue the industrial action.
A representative of one of the unions said the leadership would return to its members and communicate a decision within the agreed period.
“We are going to meet our constituents, and within 48 hours, we will see whether we will call off the strike or not,” the representative said.
Another union representative described the engagement with the Minister as positive and expressed optimism that a decision would be communicated within the 48 hours.
“We have had positive discussions with the Minister, and hopefully, within 48 hours, we will communicate our decision to the Minister,” the representative said.
The outcome of the consultations will determine whether the two unions suspend their industrial action or maintain the strike.
Vice Chancellors appeal for end to strike
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellors’ Ghana has also appealed to GAUA and TUSAAG to call off the strike to allow academic and administrative activities at universities and technical universities to return to normal.
The unions are expected to announce their decision after completing consultations with their members.
