Deputy Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Dr. Clement Apaak has said that while tertiary students will bear the full brunt of the strike action by the University Teacher Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Association cannot be faulted for deciding to embark on the strike action beginning today, January 10, 2022.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show, the Member of Parliament for the Builsa South explained that it was expected that after the intervention by the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, by extension; government, during the earlier strike action, all impending matters would have been permanently resolved.
He blamed the government for failing to handle the situation expertly.
“The matters to do with the Conditions of Service (CoE) for UTAG are not new. However, when you have commitments being made by government, after members of a Union had declared a strike and government having engaged them, the Vice President gets involved, an understanding in involved and timelines are given that the government will address the needs of the lecturers and time passes, they sit and wait and they do not see any concrete steps being taken by the employers to address the issues as agreed, when they then decide to embark on a strike, you cannot blame the lecturers.”
“Clearly, the students are going to be the victims; very unfortunate. but the blame must be squarely placed on the shoulders of government and the President for failing to fulfil their part of an understanding,” he explained.
He said the communique issued by UTAG announcing the intention to strike, signed by all 15 branch Presidents of UTAG along with its National President is a clear indication that “if anyone ever thought UTAG was bluffing, they should think again”.
Dr. Apaak explained that the Association’s strike action is justified in law after having followed due process.
Background
University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) decided to withdraw its services from today, Monday, January 10, 2022, until further notice. The strike action is to drive home the concerns of UTAG about its Conditions of Service (CoE). It is also to call out UTAG’s employer, the government, for reneging on parts of agreements reached between the two groups.
Related Stories
- UTAG begins indefinite strike tomorrow, January 10, 2022
- We can’t toil while Article 71 office holders ‘enjoy’ – CKT-UTAS UTAG President on resumption of strike
- Dr. Clement Apaak ‘weeps’ for public basic school pupils
- Dr. Nawaane urges youth to take education seriously
The President of UTAG at the C. K. Tedam University for Technical and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Dr. Jonas Bugase was speaking to A1 News the lecturers could not continue to toil for the good of the country while a few people reaped the benefits of what the economy had to offer.
“Government needs to understand that it must pay attention to the needs of labour. Just within the first week of January, how many labour unions have gone on strike? Is it not because of worsening conditions? There is the need for government to make a considerable effort to resolve all of these concerns quickly. We also understand that the economy has some challenges but we cannot keep saying same while Article 71 holders are there enjoying the best conditions and those toiling for the system are left hungry,” he explained.
Meanwhile, speaking on the same platform, the Deputy Ranking Member on Education Committee of Parliament, Dr Clement Apaak charged government to furnish Ghanaians with details on when approved textbooks would be made available for use by students and teachers, after the implementation of the Standard-Based Curriculum.
A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
