Accra: The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and the Tertiary and University Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) have issued a response to the recent interventions by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in the ongoing industrial action concerning disparities in Market Premiums.
According to Ghana Web, GAUA and TUSAAG have expressed concerns regarding UTAG's involvement in the dispute, emphasizing that their interventions have gone beyond the traditional boundaries of professional coexistence and mutual respect among university associations. Historically, these associations have co-existed with a shared commitment to the advancement of higher education, despite representing different employee categories and pursuing distinct professional interests. However, the recent actions by UTAG have raised questions about the departure from this established convention.
GAUA and TUSAAG clarified that their actions are not aimed at contesting or diminishing the gains or benefits enjoyed by UTAG members. They have not demanded any reduction in salary or benefits for Teaching Staff. Instead, their concerns focus on the remuneration disparities within the Market Premium regime, particularly for Senior Members (Administrative and Professional). The last comprehensive Job Evaluation in 2012 highlighted these disparities, with non-teaching positions initially scoring higher than teaching positions. The subsequent alignment, however, has led to significant differences in Market Premiums for equivalent positions.
The associations argue that the current remuneration structure lacks a fair and transparent formula, with teaching-related allowances impacting the interim adjustments. This has resulted in substantial disparities, with Professors receiving over 100 percent more in Market Premiums compared to Registrars of the same grade.
The intervention by UTAG-UENR, particularly their statement dated August 13, 2026, has also been challenged. GAUA and TUSAAG argue that serious allegations against GAUA-UENR and individual university officers should be investigated through appropriate channels rather than being publicly addressed by a union statement. They emphasize the importance of due process and caution against prematurely determining culpability without thorough investigation.
GAUA and TUSAAG question UTAG's intensified intervention in a dispute where their own interests are not directly threatened. They call for UTAG to engage through established bargaining processes rather than dilute or redirect the focus of the dispute. Moreover, they highlight the double standard in UTAG's characterization of their industrial action, drawing parallels to UTAG's own history of industrial actions affecting university operations.
In conclusion, GAUA and TUSAAG reaffirm their commitment to addressing the substantive issues of Market Premium disparities and demand meaningful engagement through appropriate labor-relations mechanisms. They urge UTAG to respect their autonomy and allow the statutory and bargaining institutions to address the matter.