The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has cautioned against what it describes as the growing use of court processes to halt strike actions in Ghana’s public universities, warning that such an approach could worsen labour tensions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, GAUA said it was concerned about the decision by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to rely on legal action to end the recent strike by Senior and Junior Staff Unions in public universities.
According to GAUA, the strike was triggered by unresolved conditions of service and long-standing labour grievances. T
he association expressed “unequivocal” solidarity with the concerns of the striking unions, stressing that although strike action is undesirable, it remains a lawful and constitutionally protected option when dialogue fails.
“Strike action, though undesirable, remains a lawful and constitutionally protected mechanism within Ghana’s labour framework when dialogue and engagement fail to produce meaningful outcomes,” the association said.
While acknowledging the statutory mandate of the NLC, GAUA said it strongly disagrees with what it called an increasing tendency to use court injunctions to compel workers to return to work without addressing the underlying issues.
It warned that resorting to litigation instead of constructive engagement could deepen mistrust and undermine confidence in good-faith negotiations.
“Industrial harmony cannot be sustained through judicial directives alone,” GAUA noted, adding that sustainable solutions require transparent dialogue, responsiveness to legitimate demands, and a clear commitment to fairness.
The association also renewed calls for the immediate suspension and comprehensive review of the retirement policy introduced by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
GAUA said its formal concerns about the policy remain unanswered, describing the continued silence as troubling and a potential source of further industrial unrest in the tertiary education sector.
GAUA warned that failure to address both the retirement policy and conditions of service issues could compound tensions and possibly trigger further industrial actions. It said preventive dialogue at this stage is “both prudent and necessary.”
In the statement, GAUA outlined four key demands, including full support for the striking unions, a halt to legal manoeuvres that disrupt strikes without resolving substantive issues, the suspension and review of the GTEC retirement policy pending broad stakeholder consultation, and good-faith negotiations to restore industrial harmony in public universities.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement, institutional stability, and the protection of the rights and welfare of university workers, stressing that lasting peace in the tertiary education sector can only be achieved through dialogue, equity, and mutual respect.
GAUA also urged the National Labour Commission to be more proactive in addressing labour disputes early to prevent future strike actions.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com