Gov’t Must Address UTAG’s Concerns – Dep Min

Hon. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing has called on government to address the demands of the University Teachers Association of Ghana. The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) on Tuesday gave the government an eight-day ultimatum to address their Book and Research Allowance (BRA) or otherwise embark on a nationwide industrial action. The National President of UTAG, Dr. Samuel Ofori Bekoe highlighted some pertinent issues facing the association during a press conference in Accra. He noted that early this year, the association issued a number of press releases "outlining its stance on Government’s intention to abolish the allowances paid to academic senior members of public universities and instead replaced it with a National Research Fund (NRF)", as published in a Ghana News Agency report on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. “Regrettably, if by April 15, the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) or the appropriate authority has not initiated the process for payment of the book and research allowance for the 2013/2014 academic year, UTAG will be compelled to withdraw its services... “We also used the press releases to inform government and the general public on the justification for the retention of the BRA and clarify any misconceptions that UTAG was against the proposed NRF,” he said. He further stated that BRA guaranteed minimum and immediate research support for all lecturers and researchers. “The abolition of the book and research allowance will hurt the career development of such category of academics." Speaking on U TV's "Adekye Nsroma", Hon. Vincent Oppong appealed to government to reconsider the grievances of the UTAG and resolve the conflict. He urged government should not escalate matters but undertake measures which would benefit all parties. He agreed that the BRA when observed by government would enhance the teaching experience of the University lecturers. “I think gov’t should hold meetings with UTAG to iron out their differences,” he added.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana