Sierra Leone and Ghana universities face disruptions amid academic strikes

Academic institutions in Sierra Leone and Ghana are facing significant disruptions due to ongoing industrial actions by staff and administrators.

In Sierra Leone, the University of Sierra Leone (USL) has ordered academic staff and students to return to campus for the 2026/2027 academic year, despite the government declaring the lecturers' strike unlawful. The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing welfare concerns through dialogue, noting that previous salary increases have totaled approximately 87.5 per cent.

In Ghana, the University of Ghana (UG) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have indefinitely postponed their reopening dates. The delays are a direct result of a strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) over disputes regarding salary structures and conditions of service. While physical reopening is stalled, the University of Ghana has encouraged students to proceed with digital academic enrollment to maintain eligibility for upcoming terms.