The University Teachers Association of Ghana, UTAG beginning Monday is on strike due to what it sees as unnecessary interference in the management of the University of Education, Winneba, after a High Court ordered the University's Vice-Chancellor and Finance Director to step aside until a substantive case before the Court is determined.
Some lecturers at the UEW as well as other Public Universities per the UTAG directive have withdrawn their teaching services. However, many others have not heeded to the directive given by the association for several reasons.
Speaking to Primenewsghana on condition of anonymity, a lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism said the strike called by UTAG is rather unnecessary because certain procedures have not been followed. He explains that the local UTAG body at UEW is divided as some are in support of the court ruling whilst others are against it, therefore the problem must be dealt with at the local level before assuming national proportions.
Reports indicate the directive to embark on strike has received little backing from members of UTAG, including some lecturers at the University of Education, Winneba- the University against which the court ruling was made.
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“The issue should be settled first in court before involving UTAG and declaring a nationwide strike. It is not necessary to hold a strike which affects all public universities just because of one University. There are other Universities who do not have governing councils as at now, but will UTAG show solidarity for these other Universities by declaring another nationwide strike?â€, the concerned lecturer lamented.
Meanwhile, UTAG is of the view that the court ruling was an attack on academic freedom which affects all public universities, hence the need for a strike.
UTAG’s National President, Dr Harry Agbanu says the indifference shown to the directive is usual because today being the first day, some lecturers who may not have heard about the action will still go to class.
In response to the situation at Winneba, the parent body, UTAG, says it is not perturbed by the decision of some of its members at the University of Education, Winneba to oppose its nationwide strike.
Read also: University lecturers to begin indefinite strike
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