POTAG Shouldn’t Tickle Itself And Laugh…NDC Gov’t Largely Apathetic To Poly Issues

Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) may have agreed to call off their three-month long strike; based on assurances from government, but a member of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) strongly believes the Ministry of Education will renege on its promise. POTAG members have been on strike since May 15, 2014 over non-payment of their book and research allowances since 2013. The Association however called off its strike after a series of negotiations with government. Government, after paying the May, June, July salaries of the striking teachers, decided to freeze their August salaries for no work done. On Tuesday the teachers threatened another strike if government does not release their salaries. But on Thursday, a Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Institutions, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa assured POTAG that government will soon pay their August salaries that were frozen as a result of their earlier strike. However, speaking on Peace FM on "Kokrokoo", the National Youth Organizer of the People's National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan advised POTAG members not to tickle themselves over the agreement between them and government. Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, Abu Ramadan insisted that the Mahama government is not concerned with wellbeing of the polytechnic teachers and students. Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto (Left) According to him, issues relating to Polytechnic in the country does not "bother government one bit". He expounded that the government doesn't have adequate money to pay up the book and research allowances of the Polytechnic teachers. “Polytechnic issues doesn’t [don’t] seem to bother government one bit…The corruption and thievery in the government; we should look at ways of blocking those things. People are evading taxes; let us try and put stringent measures so that we can bring everybody on board but (President) John Mahama will not listen,” Abu Ramadan said. He explained that the establishment of a Research fund by government proves that the Mahama government has exhausted the money to use for the payment of the allowances.     Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana