Students at the Cape Coast Polytechnic have embarked on a strike to pressure government to address the concerns of their teachers who are on strike.
The Polytechnic teachers association of Ghana (POTAG) has been on strike for almost a week now after government failed to pay their book and research allowance for the 2013/2014 academic year.
This decision has led to some polytechnic students protesting on their various campuses to ensure their teachers return back to the classroom.
The Ministry of Education has since reported POTAG to the National Labour Commission insisting the stance taken by association is in complete violation of the Ghanaian labour law.
Speaking to Citi News, one aggrieved student at the Cape Coast polytechnic noted that “we just want our lecturers back so that we get our exams done and then get out of here.” – he said.
Another frustrated student added that “when teachers go on strike they have only one day, so by tomorrow if they are not back everything will have to be postponed to next semester, that is why we are worried and most of us are in our final year”
Meanwhile, students of the Kumasi Polytechnic have also threatened to take court action against government for what they deemed as total neglect of polytechnic education by government.
The students hit some principal streets in Kumasi wearing red arm bands and chanting war songs.
According to them “the government is not paying attention to we the polytechnic students, and we have the technical ability to work.
They added that “what do they want us to do, we need the help of the government and if the government does not take any action on this we will take the matter to court” – he added.
The National President of POTAG, James Dugrah has however told Citi News POTAG is going to remain on strike until their demands are met.
Benjamin Epton Owusu/Citifmonline.com/Ghana