GTEC orders striking senior management officials at public universities to return to work
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed all senior management officials of public universities who have joined the ongoing industrial action by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and the Technical University Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) to immediately resume work.
In a directive issued to public universities on Monday, August 17, GTEC said senior management officials occupy executive, managerial and policy-making positions that carry specific responsibilities to their institutions and may limit their participation in industrial action under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
The Commission warned that the participation of such officials in the strike could create conflicts of interest, particularly because some are required to represent their institutions in engagements with organised labour and ensure the continuity of essential university operations.
GTEC has therefore instructed Vice-Chancellors to submit a register of senior management officials who have participated in the industrial action and failed to comply with the directive.
“Vice-Chancellors are required to submit to the Commission, within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of this directive, a register of all Senior Management Officials who have participated in the industrial action and have failed to comply with this directive,” GTEC said.
The Commission also cautioned university authorities against allowing the industrial action to disrupt essential institutional and student services.
It specifically identified end-of-semester examinations, auditing, internet and telecommunications services, student portals and registration systems, healthcare, cleaning and janitorial services, finance, salary processing and other essential payments as services that must continue.
GTEC warned that any unlawful disruption of essential services could constitute a breach of the Labour Act and other applicable laws.
The directive comes as the ongoing GAUA and TUSAAG industrial action continues to affect activities at some public universities. The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and other institutions have reportedly suspended scheduled examinations as a result of the strike.