By Nadia Ntiamoah
Three public universities, the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Development Studies (UDS) have announced indefinite or revised dates of their resumption for the new academic calendar amid administrative disruptions.
The three universities have announced changes to their academic calendars for the 2026/2027 academic year, with the ongoing strike by members of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) directly cited by two institutions as the reason for the disruption.
The University of Ghana (UG), the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the University for Development Studies (UDS) have separately notified students and other stakeholders of postponements affecting the reopening of the academic year and the matriculation ceremony for newly admitted students.
The announcements, issued between October 9 and October 10, 2026, have created uncertainty over the commencement of academic activities, with university authorities indicating that revised dates will be communicated later.
At the University of Ghana, management announced on Saturday, October 10, that the reopening of the institution for the 2026/2027 academic year, originally scheduled for Monday, October 12, had been postponed.
In a notice issued through the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, the university said a new reopening date would be announced in due course.
Although the University of Ghana did not explicitly attribute its decision to the GAUA strike in the notice, the postponement comes amid similar disruptions announced by other public universities.
The university expressed regret over the inconvenience the decision might cause students and urged them to remain patient and understanding while arrangements were made for reopening.
Management, however, stressed that students should continue with their online academic registration in accordance with instructions contained in an earlier communication.
The registration process is particularly important because it will help students secure their places for classes and establish their eligibility to participate in the university’s random bed allocation exercise.
Professor Gordon A. Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, signed the notice, which was issued by his office on October 10.
At KNUST, the postponement was more explicitly linked to the ongoing industrial action by university administrators.
In a statement dated October 9, 2026, the university management announced that the reopening of the institution, initially scheduled for October 13, had been postponed indefinitely.
The notice, issued through the Office of the Registrar, explained that the decision had become necessary because of the ongoing strike by members of the Ghana Association of University Administrators and its impact on the university’s effective operations and administration.
The university consequently advised students, parents, guardians and the general public to take note of the development while awaiting further information on the revised reopening date.
Management also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the postponement and appealed for the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders.
The statement was signed by Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, Deputy Registrar of the University Relations Office, on behalf of the Registrar.
The disruption has also affected the University for Development Studies, where management has postponed the institution’s 35th matriculation ceremony for fresh students.
In a circular dated October 9, 2026, the Office of the Registrar announced that the ceremony, which had been scheduled for Saturday, October 10, would no longer take place as planned.
The university directly attributed the postponement to the ongoing strike by members of GAUA and indicated that a new date would be announced later.All students admitted for the 2026/2027 academic year were advised to take note of the development.
The postponement is particularly significant for newly admitted students, as matriculation is the formal ceremony through which fresh students are officially welcomed into the university community and undertake to abide by the institution’s rules and regulations.
The UDS circular was circulated to key university officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Director of Finance, University Librarian, Director of Internal Audit and the Principal of the Nyankpala Campus.
GAUA strike raises concerns over university administration
The developments at KNUST and UDS underscore the potential consequences of industrial action by university administrators, whose responsibilities are central to the day-to-day running of tertiary institutions.
University administrators play important roles in admissions, student records, registration, examinations, finance, human resource management and other administrative processes that support teaching and learning.
A prolonged disruption in these services can complicate preparations for the start of an academic year, delay institutional processes and create uncertainty for students, parents and university staff.
The explicit reference by KNUST and UDS to the GAUA strike indicates that the industrial action has affected, or threatens to affect, essential administrative operations at those institutions. The University of Ghana has also postponed its reopening, although its notice did not state the reason for the decision.
The three announcements therefore point to a period of uncertainty for students preparing to begin or resume their studies, as well as for families making arrangements for accommodation, transportation and other expenses associated with university education.
Students await new dates
As of the dates of the respective announcements, none of the three notices provided a confirmed replacement date for the affected activities.
The University of Ghana said a revised reopening date would be announced in due course, while KNUST described its postponement as indefinite. UDS similarly stated that a new date for the 35th matriculation would be communicated later.
Students are consequently expected to monitor official university communications for further instructions.
At the University of Ghana, continuing with online academic registration remains an immediate priority for students, particularly because registration is tied to class participation and eligibility for the random bed allocation exercise.
For students admitted to UDS, the immediate concern is the rescheduling of the matriculation ceremony, while KNUST students await clarification on when the university will reopen.
The notices did not provide a timeline for the resolution of the industrial action or indicate when normal administrative operations would resume.
Until further announcements are made, students, parents and guardians will have to rely on official updates from the respective institutions as uncertainty continues over the commencement of the 2026/2027 academic year.
