President of the University Teachers Association (UTAG), Dr. Samuel Bekoe insists that their strike forced government to facilitate the payment of their book and research allowances.
UTAG on Thursday suspended its one-week-old strike following assurance from government that the book and research allowance is ready.
[contextly_sidebar id=”VUeU5H34U1yGFEdyBp8Skuq1L1EZ9ptW”]A Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had earlier condemned the strike saying UTAG embarrassed itself with it.
He argued that the action was wrong and “illegal” because the ministry ensured constant and “good communication” with leadership of the association.
He further maintained that “…there were several meetings that took place, we brought everybody on board, we made them know that if it is the case that negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on the takeoff of the national research fund does not happen by June, we will pay the book and research allowances.”
“As early as 13th July, that letter had gone so I am really at a loss why that should have been done and it hurt me very much that the leadership of UTAG should subject themselves to this embarrassment they have subjected themselves to,” he added.
But responding to Okudzeto Ablakwa claims in an interview with Citi News, Mr. Bekoe insisted that they embarked on the strike because they did not believe government promises.
“Why did they have to wait till we went on strike before that happened? So they are rather trying to throw dust into the eyes of the public. it is when we acted before act either than that they will be sitting there doing nothing.”
Mr. Bekoe added that “the other point is that we have not called off the strike, we said we have suspended it because we gave them a mark, they have met the mark but because of their actions we don’t have trust in them so we have given them September 30 to show that they are going to pay. When the money hits our accounts then we will be satisfied that they have paid either than that we would have to revisit the matter all over again.”
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana