Members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have hinted they might suspend their two-week-old strike in order to keep students busy ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on the 2012 election petition on Thursday.
The lecturers say engaging the students in academic work before or after the ruling will prevent them (students) from engaging in petition-related demonstrations which may turn ugly and become violent.
Dr Anthony Simmons explains that the suspension of the strike is towards fostering peace in the country, indicating “going back [to the lecture halls] in its totality that is a problem; we would have a difficulty with that”.
“We believe that when we get them [students] engaged, then at least we’ll be able to confine them to the campuses and that may help [to maintain peace]”, he said.
Last Thursday, the lecturers hinted of suspending their strike which had gone on for a week following what they described as government’s positive response to address their concerns.
But according to Dr Simmons, government has since not made efforts to bring the negotiations to a close. He said government has since relented in efforts to address their grievances.
The lecturers are protesting delays in the payment of their ten months salary arrears by government.
