AFfED accuses Gov’t of being insensitive in meeting the needs UTAG members

The African Foundation for Educational Development (AFfED) has accused the government of being insensitive thus, its reluctance to meet the demands of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) resulting in them going on strike.

UTAG has refused to comply with a court order secured by the National Labour Commission which required that they returned to their duty post. The reason given for their refusal is that they currently do not have any ongoing negotiations with the government. UTAG is set to face the Commission at the Accra Labour Court today to answer a contempt case.

According to UTAG, they want the government to restore the 2012 conditions of service which they agreed under the Single Spine Salary Structure.

AFfED in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Kwame Adade said “the government’s reluctance to attend to the needs of UTAG members and its persistent use of National Labour Commission(NLC)  to intimidate and forcefully return the university teachers back to the classroom tells the insensitivity of government shown towards teachers.

“The members of the union have done nothing wrong for the NLC to subject them to such level of compulsion, intimidation and bully, other than requesting for improvement in conditions which are worse compared to some years ago.

According to the foundation, the disregard towards academia and all tactics of intimidation within the education system must be flushed out as they are unacceptable in the country.

Read the full statement below

PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO MUST APOLOGIZE TO GHANAIAN TEACHERS

 African Foundation for Educational Development(AFfED) have however noticed with grave concern the unfit treatments smeared on teachers and wish to express our disappointment in the president and his appointees in the Ministry of Education.

1.   THE PRESIDENT’S UTTERANCE ABOUT TEACHERS FINANCIAL STATUS

The President’s recent utterance about not venturing teaching if one wants to be a millionaire is really demoralizing and seeks to drain down the efforts of teachers. This, therefore, reflects in the government’s undue delay in teacher promotion, refusal to pay responsibility allowance, acting allowance etc.  Indeed, teachers cannot be millionaires when the government deliberately neglects its own responsibility.

2.   UTAG STRIKE

The government’s reluctance to attend to the needs of UTAG members and its persistent use of National Labour Commission(NLC)  to intimidate and forcefully return the university teachers back to the classroom tells the insensitivity of government shown towards teachers. The members of the union have done nothing wrong for the NLC to subject them to such level of compulsion, intimidation and bully, other than requesting for improvement in conditions which are worse compared to some years ago.

The total disregard towards academia and the tactics of intimidation within the education system must not be accepted in our dear country.

AFfED, therefore, call on the President, Nana Akufo Addo and the Minister for Education to render an unqualified apology to all teachers in Ghana for such statement and treatment pointed at them.

We again demand that, government plays an expediting role for all allowances to be paid to deserving teachers and also address all issues regarding teacher promotion.

Finally, government must grant the request of UTAG by making proposals which are workable within the union so that academic work on the various university campuses would bounce back in full force.

Director- AFfED

By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh

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