Police reports indicate that, in the midst of the chaos, some persons saw an opportunity to loot properties that had been left behind during the stampede.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3JwAZ30Q6os6FDul5B55X7r3W0ALRQeV”]The police were however able to nab three of the suspected thieves.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Sheila Abayie Buckman, confirmed that the three had been taken into custody, and would be brought before the court on Tuesday.

“…they tried to loot some of the properties people had left behind. We will be following due process and hopefully today [Tuesday], they will be taken to court,” she said.

“They will be charged with theft,” she added.

‘We’re working hard to ensure normalcy’

Road access to the Atomic junction has since been cordoned off, as non-threatening quantities of gas still remain in the tanks sited at the affected filling stations.

The debris from the disaster also still remain at the scene.

Business activities in the area have also come to a standstill as investigations continue to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

DSP Buckman, however assured the public and road users on that stretch that efforts are being made to ensure that normal human and vehicular activities return as soon as possible.

“…The technical team is on the ground, all stakeholders are on the ground. We’re here working frantically for life to come to normal. Tuesday morning, because we anticipate the traffic flow will be directed towards town, we have policemen on the grounds diverting the routes. Thankfully, authorities of the University of Ghana have allowed to access to their otherwise inaccessible roads without a special card,” DSP Buckman said.

Atomic Gas Explosion

On Saturday night, a gas explosion occurred at a filling station at the Atomic junction in Accra, killing seven people and injuring some 132 other persons.

Two filling stations were totally consumed by the conflagration. Authorities are yet to firmly establish the cause of the gas explosion.

–

By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline/Ghana

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The court adjourned the case, brought against POTAG by the National Labour Commission (NLC), to Thursday, August 28.

The Chairman of the Cape Coast Polytechnic branch of POTAG, Isaac Aggrey- Fynn, told Citi News that the court decision to adjourn proceedings was “unfortunate.”

“The whole matter has been delayed and  it is a worry to us and to the students,” he said

The SRC leader of Kumasi Polytechnic, Benjamin Kodjo Sakyi on the Citi Breakfast Show described the strike as “unfortunate”, adding that students have been battling with academic challenges since their lecturers embarked on a strike.

However, Mr. Aggrey-Fynn called on the Student Representative Councils of the various polytechnics to put  pressure on the government to meet POTAG’s demands.

“They should pour all their anger and frustration on government to solve the issues once and for all.”

They should draw the public’s attention for the government to see the need to comply with something that is legitimate to the lecturers

Polytechnic teachers all around the country have been on strike since May over the government’s decision to scrap the payment of Book and research allowances.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to GNUPS, their support of POTAG’s strike was based the belief that their demands were legitimate.

Polytechnic teachers all around the country have been on strike for over 16 weeks in protest of the government’s decision to stop the payment of book and research allowances to teachers.

However,  GNUPS believe  that the government’s recent show of commitment towards finding a solution to POTAG’s four-month-old strike should be reciprocated.

The government has said it will scrap the book and research allowance  and replace it  with the national research fund, which would require teachers to apply for funding to undertake their research.

And speaking in an interview with Citi News, the Coordinating Secretary of GNUPS, Kwame Amponsah, applauded the efforts made by the government and called on POTAG to call off its strike.

“Now that the government has openly come out to rescind its decision of not paying [the book and research allowances], they [POTAG] should call off the strike and come back to complete the academic year.”

He said that “it is very worrisome that POTAG is shifting their position.”

Mr. Amponsah added that “POTAG cannot leave the [polytechnic] students halfway,” having had their support from the beginning of the strike.

The call comes a day after  the President of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), James Dugrah, on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, had said that the teachers  will not return to the classroom unless the government pays their book and research allowance.

“I think you know want goes into teaching; if you don’t research can you go and teach? If you don’t research how can you just get up and go and be teaching…,’’ he told the host of the show, Bernard Avle.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the book and research allowance is the ‘’basic tool’’ for the work of the teachers.

‘’I think you know want goes into teaching; if you don’t research can you go and teach. If you don’t research how can you just get up and go and be teaching…,’’ he told the host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, on Tuesday.

He explained that government is deliberately ‘’dragging its feet’’ in paying POTAG. “People borrowed money to do that and you dragging your feet to pay; is it fair,’’ he inquired.

Mr. Dugrah also stated that it was unfortunate the POTAG strike was not receiving public sympathy.

He added that government cannot withold the salaries of the teachers because the strike is legal.

‘’… if the strike is illegal then government will not pay; I think you are a christian, go and read Matthew 18:12-14 and then Luke 15:3-7. You will appreciate what we [POTAG] are doing,’’ he opined.

POTAG  has been on strike for over 16 weeks. The teachers are demanding that government pays their book and research allowance.

The group says government’s failure to pay them their allowances constituted a breach of their conditions of service.

Government has said it will scrap the book and research allowance  and establish a national research fund.

Explaining government’s side of the story, Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said: ‘’we [Ministry] were ready to offer an amended position…,  so that we can really pay serious  attention to research in the country.’’

He stated that the book and research allowance, according to findings, does not aid research, hence the proposal of the National Research Fund by a committee chaired by Professor Mireku Gyimah.

‘’We have hope to begin implementation this year; then the unions [POTAG and UTAG]  raised an issue that the book and research allowance should stay and then the National Research Fund should also be introduced. But we disagreed because that will amount to duplication and we [Ghana] don’t have the resources to run two systems [all serving the same purpose]…,’’ he said.

The deputy minister also revealed that the issue is currently in the courts and government is awaiting the outcome.

The new National Research Fund will require teachers to apply for funding to undertake their research.

Polytechnic students will have to stay home a while longer as confusion over the book and research allowance continues.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) declared an indefinite strike in July 2014 to protest the government’s decision to scrap the payment of book and research allowances to tertiary institutions.

The government has stated that it will scrap the payment of book and research allowances  and establish a national research fund instead.

The Ministry of Education has threatened to drag UTAG before the National Labour Commission (NLC) for failing to follow the laid down procedures before embarking on a strike.

Explaining the stance of UTAG regarding the book and research allowance on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Dr. Langbon Bimi revealed that the book and research allowance demanded by the group was part of their condition of service and no one could just get up and say he or she was removing it.

He also mentioned that in their condition of service “it is stated that this book and research allowance will be reviewed from time to time”

According to him “the two are absolutely different things, the research allowance that we take as conditions of service are basic tools that we use to teach.”

“We source money from all over the world to do research. The research allowance is just GHC 500,” he added.

He also revealed that university teachers use the book and research allowance to update their knowledge and  publish their work in reputable journals for their promotion.

Polytechnic teachers have been on strike over the research and book allowance for six weeks now. Leaders of Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) say they will not return to the classroom until the monies owed them are paid.

By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Polytechnic teachers have been on strike since May in protest of the “unwillingness on the part of government to pay their Book and Research Allowance” for the 2013/2014 academic year.

POTAG, on Tuesday, met with members of the Parliamentary Select Committee to deliberate on the issue.

The President of POTAG, James Dugura, told Citi News that some headway has been made after the “peaceful and healthy” meeting with the Select Committee after previous unfruitful attempts to end the strike.

He admitted that the dispute would not be resolved until after a further interactions with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission after they had been briefed by the Committee.

However, he stated that he was hopeful a favourable decision would be made in due course.

“From the previous meetings we have been holding concerning this issue, this one was very different and POTAG was very happy about it,” Mr. Dugura said.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Polytechnic teachers have been on strike for more than two months over their unpaid book and research allowance, forcing Polytechnics across the country to shutdown.

An Accra Human Rights Court ordered the National Labour Commission (NLC) to resort to a compulsory arbitration with the lecturers but nothing has been done about the situation as POTAG members are still on strike.

Speaking to Citi News, the President of POTAG, James Dugra said the Association’s meeting will mainly revolve around their Book and Research Allowance.

“We are not asking government to pay us the money instantly but government should even agree they owe us and give us some time even if the economy is facing some challenges.”

“We will appreciate it if Ghanaians ask government when they will pay our money, then the answer to our questions will be very clear,” Mr. Dugra stated.

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The court was compelled to adjourn the case since the submission to be filed by the respondent had not yet been placed on the docket of the court.

Counsel for the applicants, Ocscar Asante Nnuro, however prayed the court to expedite hearing of the case.

The court, adjourned the case to July 14, for the determination as to whether the strike was legal.

At the last adjourned date, Council for the Respondent, Mr Justine Pwavra Teriwajah, told the court that they had already filed a preliminary objection to the application.

He said the NLC had no legal right to summon them before court, and that, they were in objection to the application.

The NLC was in court to enforce its directive for polytechnic teachers to call off their over-a-month old strike as well as enforce its ruling in the disparity between the Government and POTAG over the scrapping of the research and book allowances.

The NLC had ruled that POTAG should return to work while arbitration procedures were initiated to address the concern but POTAG had refused.

The POTAG has since May laid down its tools after Government failed to pay its book and research allowance for the 2013/2014 academic year.

Meanwhile, members of the Polytechnic Students Association of Ghana, has asked Government to intervene in the disagreement between their lecturers and the National Labour Commission since the strike action is affecting academic work.

Source: GNA

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The indefinite strike by the teachers is as a result of the non-payment of their book and research allowances by government.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Paul Krampah, revealed to Citi News in an interview that his outfit is currently in talks with the Conference of Vectors of Polytechnics (CORPS) to resolve the crisis.

Mr. Krampah also mentioned that the ministry would hold a meeting with POTAG to ensure that their requests are met.

“The ministry will invite them very soon, together with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and see the way forward. There is an arbitration that was agreed upon by the National Labor Commission. We will meet with them and see how best we can all tackle this issue once and for all.”

POTAG announced an indefinite strike last month due to the  government’s failure to settle outstanding arrears in their allowances.

The strike has led to the closure of the Cape Coast Polytechnic.

By: Afua Kesewa Akoto/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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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

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