University Administrators Slam New Gov’t Fuel Allowance Policy

The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and the Technical Universities Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) have expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of newly approved fuel allowances for public university staff.

According to a joint press release from GAUA and TUSAAG signed by Dr. Mrs. Beth Offei-Awuku, National President of GAUA, and Mr. Kojo Ennin Oppan, Acting National President of TUSAAG, the government has been accused of discriminatory practices in the implementation of these fuel allowances. Traditionally, fuel allowances are distributed equally among all eligible staff and officeholders within public universities, with a uniform effective date.

However, for the first time, there appears to be a deliberate deviation from this practice.

The controversy arose after a directive from the Ministry of Finance in May 2024, which outlined new fuel rates, effective dates, and eligible recipients.

Despite this directive, the implementation has varied, with some staff members receiving different rates and effective dates, contrary to the signed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the government.

GAUA and TUSAAG have labelled this selective implementation as untenable, unacceptable, and an affront to the principles of equity and fairness.

They have also highlighted attempts by the government to apply different rates for common allowances among senior university members, urging the government to desist from such actions.

The associations have therefore issued a warning, stating that if the revised fuel rates and related allowances, effective from January 2024, are not implemented uniformly by the end of June 2024, they will resort to industrial action by laying down their tools.

Furthermore, GAUA and TUSAAG have reminded the government of other critical pending issues that need immediate attention to avoid further disruption and to maintain industrial harmony on university campuses.