Legon UTAG Reject Decision To Resume Lectures Today

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) branch at the University of Ghana (UG) has rejected the University’s Business Executive Committee and National Association’s decision to put off the strike and resume classes on February 28, 2022.

In a letter, the University of Ghana’s Business and Executive Committee informed students and lecturers that the institution will resume full academic operations on Monday, February 28, 2022.

In a statement, the UTAG National Executive Committee also urged members of the organization to return to school as the leadership continues to negotiate with the government and other stakeholders.

However, the UG branch, through its Secretary, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, stated that the decision to decline the request was made so that students would not be inconvenienced when classes began, and that the Association would restart strike action if negotiations did not go smoothly.

“First, the UTAG-National Executive Committee’s decision to suspend the strike, has been rejected by majority of members of public universities in Ghana, and it will not be prudent to commence teaching for few days, only to resume the strike again, given the toll this may likely impose on students and parents,” Ransford Gyampo said.

Below is UG-UTAG statement

Outcome of Emergency Meeting of UG-UTAG on 27th February, 2022

Dear Registrar,

An emergency meeting was called to discuss your release communicating the University’s Business and Executive Committee’s decision for teaching and academic work to commence on Monday 28th February 2022, in anticipation of the ratification of the UTAG-National Executive Committee’s decision to suspend the industrial action upon by UTAG since 10th January 2022.

After extensive deliberations, they directed me to bring to your attention, their inability to comply with the decision of the Business and Executive Committee for the resumption of teaching on Monday 28th February 2022. This was based on the following reasons:

First, the UTAG-National Executive Committee’s decision to suspend the strike, has been rejected by majority of members of public universities in Ghana, and it will not be prudent to commence teaching for few days, only to resume the strike again, given the toll this may likely impose on students and parents.

Secondly, given the trust deficit between UTAG and government, members indicated their preference to see the outcome of the talks/engagement (not negotiations) initiated by the government to resolve the impasse (which is expected to end on March 4, 2022), before they return to the classroom.

Kindly be notified accordingly.

Thank you.

Prof Ransford E.V. Gyampo, Secretary UG-UTAG