Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, Vice President of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), has advised administrators of the universities to consider their concerns, and not that of the government, to determine the reopening dates of the institutions.
Prof. Kwarteng who made this known in an exclusive interaction on ATL FM News on Thursday, revealed that this was made known at UTAG’s National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) with Vice Chancellors, Ghana, held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.
“We had a meeting in KNUST. We met the Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Prof. William Otto Ellis, to brief him on developments as they stand between the government and UTAG. He told us the VC-Ghana is doing everything within their power for an early resolution of our problem,” he said.
Prof. Kwarteng advised administrators of the universities to consider their concerns, and not that of the government, to determine the reopening dates of the institutions.
“UTAG is on strike and our strike will start biting when school reopens officially. So if the Vice Chancellors or the administrators of the various universities will not consult us and will take what government has said on the basis that it is coming from government and reopen universities, so be it”, he stated.
He continued: “they are the administrators managing the universities and they know we are on an indefinite strike. Until our demands are met, we will not teach. We have withdrawn our teaching services but other services are ongoing.”
Reacting to a pronouncement by a Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that salaries of POTAG members should be withdrawn since they have not worked for some number of months, Prof. Kwarteng said that the statement made by the Deputy Minister is uncalled for and should therefore be retracted.
He said POTAG did not like the statement Hon. Ablakwa made, since their strike is not an illegal one.
“Their strike action has been declared legal by a court of competent jurisdiction, therefore you cannot withhold their salaries and so why did Okudzeto in the first place make that statement?” Prof. Kwarteng asked.
He further stated, “I think it is right for POTAG to demand that he retracts that statement before they call off the strike because the salaries they are receiving are legitimate, and so you cannot tell them otherwise”.
“Who asked him to make that statement? He disrespected them so he should withdraw that statement for them to call off the strike if they so wish”, Prof. Kwarteng added.
The standoff between government and UTAG continue as government has issued a new reopening date for universities.
UTAG is calling for the running of the Book and Research Allowance along with the National Research Fund proposed by government.
However, government wants to pay the Book and Research allowance for this year and start the operation of the national Research Fund next year.
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