The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reaffirmed the commitment of Government to bring to an end the strike action that has been undertaken by the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG).

Speaking at the National Labour Conference on Monday, 28th February 2022, at Kwahu Nkwatia, in the Eastern Region, President Akufo-Addo, whilst expressing his appreciation for the relative peace prevailing on the industrial front, stated that more needs to be done to strengthen the rapport between tripartite partners for greater cooperation. 

“This is important, in the wake of the recent six-week strike action by the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG). Government is determined to find a satisfactory solution to this impasse, and ensure that the academic calendar is not, substantially, derailed,” he said. 

President Akufo-Addo continued, “The best form of negotiations are those in which both parties to the dispute exhibit good faith within the context of what is affordable and equitable. I continue to hope that our dons will see this in that light, and help bring the impasse to an end so that the education of our young people can resume in serenity”. 

He assured Members of Organised Labour of Government’s commitment to addressing their concerns at all times, and he appealed to Organised Labour to give enthusiastic support and co-operation to Government’s programme of economic recovery. 

“Government is determined to work with all stakeholders to see us through this crisis, and all the challenges it has brought in its wake. Government will continue to demonstrate the ability, resolve and determination to change the trajectory of our economy in order to help us recover faster from the effects of COVID-19. Our commitment to transform the economy with great urgency should be the guiding principle of all Social Partners,” he said. 

To this end, the President was expectant that discussions at the parallel sessions of the Conference to be informed by the real situation on the ground. 

“This will enable us manage our expectations going forward. Nonetheless, and as has been the practice, Government would continue to dialogue with you on decisions that are in the best interest of the country, labour and the business community. I look forward to more of such dialogues in the coming months, dialogues that will address the goals of equity, productivity and decent wages,” President Akufo-Addo said. 

He assured that Government will work to advance opportunities for all Ghanaians to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and dignity. 

“We will continue to work proactively, by implementing programmes and policies, that will protect the citizenry from the consequences of the pandemic,” he added.

(The Daily Searchlight appears every day on the newsstands and for sale 24 hours every day and all week on www.ghananewsstand.com. Visit www.ghananewsstand.com for a wide variety of newspapers published in Ghana and from across the world.)

Cape Coast, Feb. 7, GNA – Some students of the University of Cape Coast have expressed support for the imminent closure of the school due to the one’ month strike action by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).

The students said it was the only way to get government to wake up to the seriousness of the situation and act accordingly.

They observed that government, per its posturing, did not appear interested in the issue, hence the support for the closure despite the potential dire consequences on the academic calendar. 

The Ghana News Agency’s sources indicated that the Governing Council of the University was set to meet on Thursday, February 10, 2022, to take a decision on whether to close the school or not. 

This is in line with the school’s statute which provides that the institution be closed down after 21 days of academic inactivity.

The campus of UCC is gradually turning a ghost town as more and more students continue to go home even before the order for closure is given, GNA observed Monday.

Students were seen traipsing to and fro as they did not have much to do. 

A continuing student, Samuel Korankye, told GNA that he believed about 70 percent of the students had returned home, saying he was still on campus only because he wanted to utilise the hostel he had already paid for.

James Arhinful Korsah, a level 300 student, said, “I support the school management to shut down the school because it is the only way government will listen to the lecturers, as they might with the institution open, they assume we are studying”. 

He called on the government and the school authorities to deliberate and come out with some positive solutions not to jeopardise their future.

Endorsing the remarks of her colleagues, a level 200 student, Miriam Ansu said it was better to close the school down because the inactivity on campus was “depressing”. 

“The government appears not interested in what the lecturers want and so I think if they close down the school, they will act,” she stressed. 

Abdul Raman, a level 300 student, thinks otherwise, saying the closure would have dire consequences on the academic calendar. 

“The closure will not sit well with any student like myself because it is going to go against all of us who have paid school and hostel fees. The shutdown is not an option for me,” he added. 

He said he was hoping to hear good news by the close of the day “otherwise it is going to be very terrible for some us.” 

UTAG embarked on strike on January 10, 2022 to protest what they described as “worsening condition of service”. 

The industrial action is, therefore, intended to compel government to implement the 2012 condition of service, which fixed the Basic and Market Premium of a lecturer at $2,084.42.

According to the association, the current arrangement short changes their members by $997.84.

The Naional Labour Commission (NLC) dragged the striking lecturers to court to compel them to call of their action. 

But the High Court in Accra (Labour Division), instead, directed the parties to settle the matter out of court and return on Thursday, February 10, 2022, with the outcome of the settlement.

Meanwhile, the University Students Association of Ghana has threatened to embark on a series of protests should the situation remain the same this week.

GNA 

(The Daily Searchlight appears every day on the newsstands and for sale 24 hours every day and all week on www.ghananewstand.com. Visit www.ghananewstand.com for a wide variety of newspapers published in Ghana and from across the world.)