NCTE invitation to UTAG 'useless' - UTAG, Legon

President of University Teachers Association (UTAG) at the University of Ghana (UG) Legon, Dr. Harry Agbanu, has called on government to reverse the dissolution of the Interim Council at the Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST) because it is an ‘’illegality’’.

UTAG he revealed has resolved it will not recognize the interim council despite the invitation extended to UTAG and the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU).

He told Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that UTAG and TEWU will not join the interim council because it is ‘’an insult to us. So government should just forget it. We are not going to join any interim council and I underline, we will not join the interim council. We have asked government to reinstate the dissolved council if not, we are not going to engage government in anyway.’’

He indicated that government has no hand when it comes to academics at our various public universities because they are autonomous.

The National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) has written to the Interim Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to add to its fold, a representative each, from the local chapters of the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).

In a statement dated 26 October 2018 and signed by Executive Secretary Professor Mohammed Salifu, the NCTE said:

“The seven-member Interim Council for the KNUST inaugurated on Thursday, 25 October 2018 included persons from Convocation and management of the university”, adding: “It was assured, therefore, that this representation would provide a good reflection of the perspectives of both management and staff of the Council”.

“However, following further consultations in the light of concerns raised by various groups about the membership, the government, through the Ministry of Education, has revised the membership.

“Accordingly, I have been directed to inform you that approval has been given for the local TEWU and UTAG to nominate one representative each, to serve on the Interim Council.

“The Hon. Minister kindly requests that you take steps, through the Registrar to receive the nominees and to swear them in at your earliest opportunity”.

But Dr. Harry Agbanu says the invitation will not settle the matter and the only solution is to reinstate the dissolve council. Failure to do so he stated may lead to nationwide strike in all public universities.

The various universities he hinted will meet next week and the call they are receiving across the country, will lead to the strike action but stressed on the need for government to prevent it from occurring by reinstating the dissolved council.

He said, "the interim council is an illegality and we must not allow it to operate’’.