Outgoing President of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), Dr. Mrs. Beth Offei-Awuku, has urged members of the association to show greater interest in the many activities the organization engages in.
Speaking on the second day of the GAUA Congress at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana on Friday, she noted that the diversity of professionals in the association has yet to be fully harnessed, as there still exists significant apathy, which adversely affects group thinking and solidarity within GAUA.
She added, “The dichotomy of administrators and professionals with inherent complexes of recognition needs redress.”
The apathy appears to be a result of the threatened breakaway of aggrieved professionals within the Association who aim to form a new union.
Over 500 members of GAUA, dissatisfied with the compromised conditions of service, particularly concerning their categories, have come together to form a splinter group of professionals, seemingly to advocate for themselves going forward.
Their leadership has been approached, and talks are ongoing to address the challenges of these aggrieved members.
“We can only hope that this split is reconsidered for the good of both parties,” Dr. Mrs. Beth Offei-Awuku expressed.
Dr. Offei-Awuku further emphasized that leveraging diversity would place GAUA on a better footing to achieve more.
As part of her recommendations, she stressed the need for GAUA to contribute to national discourse and engage with stakeholders.
The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) continues its national congress, which commenced on Thursday, August 29, and is slated to end on Saturday, August 31.
Today, GAUA convenes at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana to review and adopt its conditions of service. On Friday, the Association will also swear in the incoming executives.
The Chairperson for the event is Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, PhD, FGA, the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana.
The Guest of Honour is Education Minister Dr. Osei Adutwum. However, he will be represented by his deputy, Dr. Ntim Frdjour.
Sister associations gracing the event include the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU), among others.
The theme for this year’s congress is “Balancing Growth and Sustainability in Expanding Public Universities – The Role of GAUA.”