Many are the messages university students in Ghana have been sending to myJCR’s WhatsApp number (023-555-1144) seeking credible information and clarification in relation to the on-going UTAG strike and an “August 27, 2014” reopening date for tertiary institutions in Ghana.
We responded all those students with the most relevant and credible update available but since the matter is of concern to virtually all tertiary institutions in Ghana, we at myJCR is giving you our cherished students this special notice so you will be well informed.
We have come across the release by Radio XYZ that “Government has disclosed that the 2014/2015 academic year can now commence from the 27th of August 2014. Due to the current fight against the deadly Ebola viral disease which resulted in the postponement of the re-opening date for tertiary institutions, government through the Inter-Ministerial Team on the Ebola Viral Disease, following the meeting held on the 18th of August 2014 has assessed the agreed cooperation with government and the preparedness measures of public and private tertiary institutions in Ghana and has declared the resumption of the new academic year”.
Students are to note that the PRIMARY cause of the INDEFINITE SUSPENSION OF RE-OPENING was the UTAG strike, NOT Ebola Viral Disease. It can clearly be recalled that the first notice concerning indefinite suspension of reopening of UCC was from the UCC SRC President, David Boakye, who clearly stated it is due to the UTAG strike. UCC postponed its reopening indefinitely long before the directive for postponement of tertiary institutions by government.
THE TRUTH IS THAT, EBOLA OR NO EBOLA, UTAG IS STILL ON STRIKE thus the reopening date said to have been released by the Minister of Education won’t bring any positive change till UTAG calls off the strike.
Below is the most recent release we published from the front of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG):
“The University Teacher’s Association of Ghana, UTAG, has said its indefinite strike continues unabated. In a meeting held by the UCC Chapter of the Association, it was revealed that the strike will continue to hold till demands of the Association are met.
According to the Vice President of UTAG-UCC, Prof Kwame Osei Kwarteng, the meeting was called to inform members of the association of issues as they stand between government and UTAG.
Prof. Kwarteng speaking to Akosua Akyeabea Sackey in an exclusive interaction said the strike still holds. “UTAG is still on strike. We called the meeting to inform our members about what has happened so far. It was basically a progress report we gave them”.
On whether the strike will be called off any time soon with government possibly giving in to UTAG’s demand, Prof. Kwarteng
said that was difficult to conclude. “I cannot tell if government will give in but on the 20th of August, we are going to meet the Chairman of Vice Chancellors, Ghana. For now we do not know what the Chairman will tell us but we are going to keep our fingers crossed until we get there. It is only when we have met him that we will know what our next move will be.”
Many students have expressed their disappointment in government on myJCR’s Facebook page for “hiding” behind the Ebola outbreak instead of dealing with the main issue concerning the indefinite suspension of reopening which is the UTAG STRIKE. The students made reference to the fact that many of the international students had arrived in the country prior to the release by government thus it wasn’t necessary. Some are also accusing the Executives of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) for their “inaction”.
As at 7:00am Thursday August 21, 2014 that we released this special notice, there was no official notice from UTAG calling off the strike action or any notice of new reopening dates by any of the universities. myJCR Team advises students to remain calm as myJCR closely monitos the situation. We will update students as soon as any official release is made by UTAG or any university.
We would also like to take this opportunity to caution students who have been “cooking” false information and spreading it via social media and chat messengers. It is indeed criminal and dangerous act to misinform students. You may lose your studentship if you are finally caught. Please stop forwarding information you have not verified to your friends on Whatsapp and social media.
We at myJCR.com are committed to feeding university students in Ghana with nothing but RELEVANT, RELIABLE, and TIMELY campus updates thus we advise you to ALWAYS verify notices/updates you receive via social media or WhatsApp on myJCR.com and your university’s website to stay safe from the recent criminal acts of some students in spreading false information.
To make this easy for you, we have made myJCR.com mobile friendly (you can easily view updates right on your mobile phone) and very easy to navigate. Stay RELIABLY informed 24/7, follow us on Facebook (myJCR), Instagram (@myJCR), and Twitter (@myJCR).
