Some Polytechnic students across the country have hit the streets to demand the immediate return of their lecturers before a possible closure of the campuses.
The lecturers have been on a nationwide strike over unpaid book and research allowances for almost three weeks now, although the Education Ministry and the National Labour Commission have described their industrial action as illegal.
Some demonstrators at the Cape Coast Polytechnic told Joy News government should “negotiate well” with the lecturers so that they will return to the classroom as soon as possible.
They said the strike is affecting them psychologically and has also come with a great cost to them – financially.
“We want to write our examinations and leave campus in peace,” a demonstrator cried out.
Another added, “Our message is simply, that we want government, with immediate effect, to bring our teachers back to the classroom whichever way they will go about it…”
In the Volta Region, Joy News correspondent Hubert Mawuli Yevu-Agbi reports that about 300 students of Ho Polytechnic also marched through the principal streets of Ho to present a petition to the Volta regional Minister, Helen Ntoso at the Regional Coordinating Council.
The students expressed frustration about the strike and called on government to intervene.
The National Labour Commission has sued the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana to get them to resume lectures.
Meanwhile, President of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana, James Dugrah told Joy News the Association is contemplating to meet on Friday to decide on their strike.
Describing the situation as “complex”, he blamed the Labour Commission for the strike, saying the Commission was informed about POTAG’s concern about two months ago but the letter was “relegated”.
