NUGS appeals to UTAG, SSA-UoG to call off strike

The National Union of Ghana Students has called on the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and Senior Staff Association – Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) to call off their planned industrial action and continue negotiations with government.

NUGS charged UTAG and SSA-UoG to, “as an act of good faith towards students and government, avoid an entrenched position in all dialogues to address their concerns.”

They argue that the effect of the pandemic has already disrupted academic activities and that a strike in these “abnormal times will further worsen the plight of the Ghanaian student.”

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), has directed members to withdraw all teaching and related activities on campus beginning Monday, August 2, this year.

Members of the association are to lay down their tools and stay off teaching, examinations and invigilation, marking of examination scripts and processing of results until further notice.

A statement issued by the NEC, and jointly signed by Professor Charles Marfo, the UTAG National President, and Dr Eric K. K. Abavare, the National Secretary, said members on the various campuses ought to comply with this directive.

The decision to embark on an industrial strike, according to the NEC, was borne out of the government’s refusal to heed calls by the association to improve the worsening conditions of service of the university teachers.

But in a statement, NUGS disagreed with the strike approach considering its effect on students.

This was captured in a statement signed by President of NUGS Emmanuel Boakye Yiadom.

Below is a copy of the statement

STRIKE ACTIONS : UNIVERSITY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA ( UTAG ) AND SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION- UNIVERSITIES OF GHANA ( SSA-UoG ) MUST RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM AND CONTINUE WITH NEGOTIATIONS BUT GOVERNMENT MUST ACT SWIFTLY IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THEIR DEMANDS – NATIONAL UNION OF GHANA STUDENTS ( NUGS ) ADVICES PARTIES

1. With reference to the press release dated 28th and 30th July 2021, from both the University Teachers Association Of Ghana ( UTAG ) and SeniorStaff Association – Universities of Ghana ( SSA-UoG ) respectively, registering their displeasure towards government’s continuous delay in honouring the full terms of their negotiations.
2. Both UTAG and SSA-UoG states emphatically in their releases that the government has always failed to respect the Rules of Engagement agreed by both parties to guide the negotiations resulting in an indefinite suspension slated for Monday, 2nd of August 2021.
3. The National Union of Ghana Students appreciates UTAG and SSA-UoG for the patience and sacrifice of their membership towards service rendered to Ghanaian students and the nation at large. We believe strongly that the answers UTAG and SSA-UoG are seeking from the government are for the right reasons.
4. That notwithstanding, We disagree with the strike approach considering its effect on students, especially within the abnormal times we find ourselves in and the earlier obstruction of academic work by the global shutdown. UTAG and SSA-UoG must as an act of good faith towards students and government avoid an entrenched position in all dialogues to address their concerns.
5. We call on government to;

I. Respect all the Rules of Engagement agreed upon by parties

II. Reach a compromise which will satisfy all parties as soon as possible.

6. We appeal to our lecturers to stay in the classroom for the sake of the future generation as they continue to negotiate with the appropriate quarters since Ghanaian students shouldn’t always be at the receiving end.
7. We implore all students to remain calm as the Union engages all parties involved for an amicable resolution.

signed :

Yiadom Boakye Emmanuel ( NUGS President )
024 697 0434

Kyeremeh Oppong Daniel ( Sec.for Education )
054 316 9495

Julius Anthony ( Gen. Secretary )
0553223028