Leadership of the Association has asked its members to return to the classroom today [Friday].

This comes after a meeting between the Association and the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Thursday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”odUN3OUHqneBBCCfZ6N5XumLgnCp6h68″]TUTAG has been asked to hold consultative meetings with the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to address its grievances.

Members of TUTAG stayed out of the classroom for four days in protest of the amendment of certain sections of the 2016 Act that establishes Technical universities.

The amendment bill which is currently before Parliament seeks to grant powers to the NCTE to perform functions which TUTAG argues fall within the purview of the Governing Councils, the Academic Boards and the Principal Officers of  Technical Universities in Ghana.

Speaking to Citi News the General Secretary of TUTAG, David Worwui Brown, said Association will resume its action if nothing useful comes out of the consultative meetings with stakeholders.

“The Ministry and the National Council of Tertiary Education have consulted with our Association so the grey areas that we have, we will see how best we can streamline them for our mutual benefit. Perhaps we will also be meeting the parliamentary select committee on education. That may be a final meeting as to consider whichever amendments that the Minister would have made to the proposed amendments. Based on that we will suspend our strike and then resume the strike if our consultation does not yield any result.”

TUTAG had called on the President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in October 2017, to stop the NCTE’s illegal directives being imposed on the various technical universities.

TUTAG had indicated that the NCTE is usurping the powers of technical universities against the provisions of Technical Universities Act.

It said the NCTE is abusing the powers that were imposed on it during the period when the various polytechnics were being converted into Technical Universities.

TUTAG said despite the inauguration of the various Councils, the NCTE is still issuing directives to the technical universities which are, in its view, in a crystal clear contravention of the provisions of the Technical Universities Act.

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By: Marian Ansah & Naa Kwarmah Siaw Marfo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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In a letter addressed to the Rector, dated February 26, 2018, and signed by the Executive Secretary of the Council, Prof. Mohammed Salifu, the Council stated that its decision is borne out of a petition it has received accusing the Rector of diverse improprieties.

The letter partly reads, “The allegations relate to lack of accountability in the use of resources of the Polytechnic, breach of rules and procedures and disregard for due process and directives from judicial authorities, among other things”.

The suspension is with immediate effect, and the embattled Rector has been ordered to hand over the administration of the Polytechnic to the Vice Rector of the institution.

Information available to Citi News indicates the suspended Rector is set to meet officials of the Ministry of Education and the NCTE on Wednesday when investigations into his alleged acts are to commence.

Meanwhile, the National Council for Tertiary Education says the status of Cape Coast Polytechnic as a Technical University is currently being finalized in Parliament, and thus the public should be careful using the brand ‘Technical University’ to refer to the institution.

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By: Joseph Ackon Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the students, attempts to amend sections of the Technical University Act seek to sabotage the effective running of technical universities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0FBFUqIztyaRZzcTgek9iSz4IFaTvIdz”]Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the National Coordinating Secretary for the union, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, argued that, technical universities were capable of being autonomous hence must be allowed to operate as such.

“Since the conversion of the polytechnics to technical universities in September 2016, these institutions are still running the same programs as they were when they were polytechnics, and have not been given clearance by the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE) to begin offering a straightaway 4-year degree program. This has largely affected the technical universities and is contributing to low patronage by applicants…In spite of the crippling but avoidable challenge affecting technical universities, government intends to worsen the case of these institutions with unnecessary sections in the technical universities (amendment) bill 2017.”

The students criticized the Education Ministry for championing the cause to cede management of their schools to the NCTE.

They said the Ministry was engaged in acts to promote “oppressive and dictatorial management of tertiary institutions.”

“The proposed amendments, in summary, seeks to take away the autonomy enjoyed by the Technical Universities just as it exists in all other Universities in Ghana. It is beyond reasonable comprehension that the Ministry which is expected to champion and observe best practices in education management has now become the proponent of oppressive and dictatorial management of tertiary institutions.”

While urging the government to reconsider the proposal, the student’s body threatened to stage a protest if the government does not take a positive action on the matter.

TUTAG to strike over NTCE’s attempt to ‘undermine’ technical universities

The Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), had earlier threatened to embark on strike if some sections of the 2016 Act that establishes Technical universities are amended.

According to the Chairman of the Ho chapter of TUTAG, Albert Laurent Sakabutu, the amendment is going to make it impossible for technical universities to do anything on their own without recourse to the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).

“We are being told that anything you want to acquire in terms of property you need to seek to approval from the NCTE, this is in clear contravention with the Public Procurement law and the Public Finance Management Act,” he said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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There is currently an attempt by Parliament to amend portions of the Act.

[contextly_sidebar id=”msgcLQZglYILeG851mPsf2vkxIea98yB”]According to the Chairman of the Ho chapter of TUTAG, Albert Laurent Sakabutu, the amendment is going to make it impossible for technical universities to do anything on their own without recourse to the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).

“We are being told that anything you want to acquire in terms of property you need to seek to approval from the NCTE, this is in clear contravention with the Public Procurement law and the Public Finance Management Act,” he said.

He noted that what the Ministry of Education and the NCTE are up to is nothing but disruption.

“When you look at section 27, which they seek to amend, that section has given the power to our governing council to enact status, now the ministry together with NCTE are coming up to say we need a harmonized status, so they are finding ways and means of seeking the idea of harmonized status into our law, and so they want to amend that section 27. We feel that this government is up to mischief, and this mischief must not be allowed to stand,” he said.

The Technical University’s Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), called on the President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in October 2017, to stop the National Council for Tertiary Education’s (NCTE) illegal directives being imposed on the various technical universities.

“The NCTE’s directive on ratification of Harmonized Conditions of Service [which varies from one Technical University to the other] contravenes several sections of the Labour Act 2003, Act 651, which relates to the right of workers to negotiate terms and conditions of employment in Ghana. The right of staff of technical universities to negotiate the relevant terms and conditions of service will be denied or severely curtailed if the proposed procedure by NCTE prevails,” Regional TUTAG President, Peter Awuni stated.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Prof. Salifu Mahama, told Citi News that the delay has negative implications for the running of public tertiary institutions.

“Parliament is the institution that directed all the institutions to bring their proposed fees for consideration and approval. If parliament does not get back in time, all that it means is that, this year effectively will be the same fees as last academic year,” he said

[contextly_sidebar id=”m7DkGVdX7TIiVpxbIhIDnN74O5MlSSiM”]The Chairman of Parliament Subsidiary Committee, Mahama Ayariga, who threatened a lawsuit, argued that increasing fees without parliamentary approval would be unlawful.

Parliament, through its Subsidiary Legislation Committee, demanded a halt in the implementation of proposed fees for the academic year pending the house’s approval. Though public tertiary institutions have reopened for second-semester activities, the proposed fees are yet to be approved.

The National Council for Tertiary Education in August 2017, asked the management of public institutions to maintain the 2016/2017 Academic Year levels of fees and charges; while Parliamentary approval is sought for any adjustments for this academic year.

A statement issued by the Council, and signed by the Executive Secretary, Professor Mohamed Salifu, said: “The proposed fees and charges for the 2017/2018 Academic Year have been collated for consideration and approval by Parliament. This is in accordance with the requirements of the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (Act 793) and Amendment Instrument 2016 (L.I.2228).”

The University Students Association of Ghana [USAG)], has welcomed a directive by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), ordering the various public tertiary institutions to maintain the fees they charged for the 2016/2017 academic year.

NCTE directed management of the universities not to charge new fees until Parliament approves their charges.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to TUTAG, the NCTE is usurping the powers of technical universities against the provisions of Technical Universities Act.

TUTAG, at a press conference in Takoradi accused the NCTE of abusing the powers that were imposed on it during the period when the various polytechnics were being converted into Technical Universities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gu7SpxFyrPo3bVEJ2gADZQMIFCS1WlGI”]The transition made it impossible for the various councils to be inaugurated.

TUTAG said despite the inauguration of the various Councils, the NCTE is still issuing out directives to the technical universities which are, in its view, in a crystal clear contravention of the provisions of the Technical Universities Act.

“The NCTE’s directive on ratification of Harmonized Conditions of Service [which varies from one Technical University to the other] contravenes several sections of the Labour Act 2003, Act 651, which relates to the right of workers to negotiate terms and conditions of employment in Ghana. The right of staff of technical universities to negotiate the relevant terms and conditions of service will be denied or severely curtailed if the proposed procedure by NCTE prevails,” Regional TUTAG President, Peter Awuni stated.

He maintained that “the NCTE’s directive regarding the enactment of the Harmonized Statutes of a Technical University contravenes section 26 of the [Technical University’s] Act, which confers the powers of enacting statutes on the council of each Technical University. It is therefore palpable the NCTE is seeking to usurp the powers of the councils of the technical universities in relation to the enactment of statutes.”

TUTAG is worried that the behavior of the NCTE sends a bad signal purporting to question the competencies and qualities of the personalities that make up the councils in the various universities in relation to developing proper guidelines and directives for the running of the universities.

The Technical Universities Act does not enjoin all technical universities to have harmonized statutes, agree harmonized conditions of service, or institute harmonized scheme of service for staff.

It is therefore calling on the President and the Minister of Education to call the National Council for Tertiary Education to order to prevent a possible legal suit.

“In view of the foregoing and the potential legal battle that may ensue with obvious repercussion for technical education in Ghana, we appeal to His Excellency the president of Ghana, the Minister of education and all stakeholders who have technical education at heart to call the NCTE to order. The NCTE is clearly acting ultra-vires relative to the matters.”

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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A convocation ceremony to elect a Deputy Rector last Thursday, was called off by the acting Registrar, Julius Atikpui, who explained in a letter that the decision was reached in consultation with the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8hU7zlJzpLbkSm1IzgTico5s6ikOAKSe”]But the GIMPA staff believe the decision to cancel the convocation is a deliberate one to frustrate the process, hence their notice of a strike.

The Executive Secretary for the NCTE, Professor Mohammed Salifu, shed further light on the matter saying the election was called off to enable the Ministry of Education examine a court judgement on the exercise.

Speaking to Citi News, Prof. Salifu clarified that: “Nobody has denied them the opportunity of going through that process. It is just that in these peculiar circumstances, we have a court ruling and we need to be absolutely sure how that court ruling is respected and we are thinking; if they went ahead with the decision, they could take a decision that would impact adversely on what eventually will be decided. You may have a grievance, but the way you go about the grievance can make or unmake your case.”

Prof. Salifu further stressed that, the smooth running of academic activities at GIMPA was a priority of the NCTE, as he condemned the actions of staff that were affecting lectures.

“What we have told management to do is to make sure that academic activity is not interrupted; but it is not everybody who is subscribing to that. One or two people are insisting they are on strike and have not been attending lectures. Even if you go on strike, there is a procedure that you have to follow. You don’t just go for a meeting and after the meeting, you decide that you have declared a strike and you start locking up classrooms. That is completely unlawful.”

Background to lawsuit

Professor Philip Duku Osei, who was the Deputy Rector at GIMPA,  filed a suit at a Madina District Court against the Rector, Chairman of the Council and the Registrar, challenging their decision to declare his position vacant.

Prof Osei argued that he was still at post although reports are that he was appointed in 2014 to serve a two-year term.

The court in January subsequently directed that he be compensated for a year, but GIMPA be allowed to appoint a a substantive Deputy Rector.

His case was anchored on a revision of the statutes of the Council which extended the tenure of the office holder to three years.

Thus, the decision taken by the management of the Institute to call for the election of a new Deputy Rector was premature, given the fact that he still has a year left in his tenure, Prof Osei said.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education is organising the summit with the support of Trust Africa, Senegal.

It is under, the theme: “Crafting a National Vision and Plan for the 21st Century”, a statement issued in Accra, and signed by Mrs. Hilda Asante, the Head of Public Relations and Documentation of the NCTE, has said.

The statement, which was copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, urged all stakeholders, and the public, to participate in Wednesday’s event, which would be held at the Mensvic Hotel, at East Legon, in Accra.

The Summit is a follow-up to the National Policy Dialogue on Tertiary Education, which was held in 2013.

The statement said the Summit would offer an opportunity for stakeholders to make recommendations not only to inform a draft National Vision and Plan for Tertiary Education, but also propose an implementation framework.

It would also provide input into the current efforts at developing a long-term national development plan for the nation.

The statement quoted Professor Mohammed Salifu, the Executive Secretary of the NCTE as saying, “The summit will provide an opportunity for stakeholders in education, policy-makers, industry and civil society to deliberate on the sub-thematic areas of the draft national Vision and Plan document.”

The areas are postgraduate training, research and development, funding, private sector participation, diversification and differentiation”.

He explained, “This will help in the supervision, management and governance of Tertiary Education in Ghana and make it more responsive to the country’s development needs in the 21st century”.

About 150 participants selected from academic institutions, civil society organisations, think tanks, Ministries, Departments, Agencies, the private sector, Parliament and the media, would attend the Summit with, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Minister of Education as the Special Guest of Honour.

Speakers would include Prof. C.N.B Tagoe, Chairman of the NCTE and a Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and Prof. Josephus Anamuah-Mensah, a Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Education, Winneba.

The rest are Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, a Former Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana and Dr. Omano Edigheji, Consultant/Advisor, Africa’s Higher Education Dialogues, Trust Africa.

The NCTE was established by the NCTE Act 1993 (Act 454), to oversee the proper administration of institutions designated as institutions of tertiary education in Ghana, and to advise the Minister of Education on the development of the institutions.

It is committed to providing leadership in tertiary education by also advising the Government and all relevant institutions, to enhance access, quality, equity, relevance and governance.

Trust Africa works principally through collaboration and partnership with like-minded institutions and donors and as a catalyst and a convener.

It is committed to generating and testing new ideas.

“It also strives to practice good governance and promote it among its grantees, according to the statement.

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Source: GNA

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The TUC condemned ECOWAS in a press statement for endorsing the EPA, saying that provisions in the EPA will lead to a total collapse of the domestic manufacturing and other productive sectors of the economy.

Mr. Cudjoe disagreed with this assertion and told Citi News that he believes the TUC could only arrive at such a conclusion based on an “unscientific” assessment of the real benefits of the agreement.

ECOWAS’ approval of the EPA at the 45th Summit of Heads of States in Accra on July 10 has already been met with much scepticism by several Civil Society Organisations, Labour Unions and sections of the general public.

Mr. Cudjoe, however, expressed IMANI Ghana’s approval of EPA, labeling  it as “a very sensible thing to have been done,” adding that it was “one of the best mechanisms to realize our agricultural growth.”

Below is TUC’s Statement:

TUC GHANA CONDEMNS APPROVAL OF EPAs

The Trades Union Congress TUC (Ghana) adds its voice to; in no uncertain terms condemn the decision of West African leaders to approve the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU).  The decision, taken at the 45^th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Governments on July 10, 2014 in Accra, is contrary to the long held views and positions expressed by experts, stake-holders and ordinary citizens and corroborated by reputable institutions such as the United Nations.

Several Stake-holders including Faith-based organisations, trade associations, farmer-based organizations, women groups, Ordinary citizens, non-governmental organizations and private sector players have repeatedly demonstrated over the years that the EPAs are against the fundamental developmental needs and imperatives of the economies of West Africa.

The terms and provisions in the EPA text as it stands now, will lead to a total collapse of the domestic manufacturing and other productive sectors simply due to undue pressure from the subsidized goods from Europe and loss of revenue from trade taxes. Committing the ECOWAS Region to develop a roadmap and modalities for further liberalization and deregulation of a range of areas including those not required by International rule or obligation within six months of its adoption, shows how tilted the EPAs are.

One expects ECOWAS leaders to pursue a trade policy that protects local goods, encourage home industry and taxes foreign products thus putting the burden of revenue on the foreign goods; a trade policy that secures the ECOWAS, or for that matter, an African market for the African producer and not one that upholds European standards for the European worker. The EPAs make the ECOWAS worker completely dependent on foreign demand and price.

ECOWAS leaders fully understanding the consequences yet going ahead to sign the EPAs and putting the region’s development in jeopardy thus curtailing their own governments’ ability to take charge of their home grown developmental policies, is very strange, to say the least. This is complete pain inflicted on the people of West Africa in return for a paltry aid (far less than total WA trade taxes) promised by the European Union and an attempt to save a few groups of exporters when indeed credible alternatives exist that can address the concerns and needs of all stake-holders.

The TUC (Ghana) supports the call by the Economic Justice Network (EJN) that this agreement cannot be accepted by ordinary workers, men and women of this country who struggle daily in the midst of the precarious economic situation. TUC calls upon Parliamentarians to demonstrate due leadership when this inimical agreement is presented to them for ratification.

For: TRADES UNION CONGRESS (GHANA)

KOFI ASAMOAH

SECRETARY GENERAL

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He also says this posture also brings reproach to Ghana as a corporate entity.

According to the legislator, the two institutions issue out mining licenses to investors without considering the true situation on the ground.

This practice according to him, makes it impossible for local miners to detect which specific areas have been given to investors; a situation which is breeding confusion between two investors in his area.

“Minerals Commission officials do not go to the site to go and look out who actually owns that site. As I speak to you, one concession has been sold to two investors. Instead of them going down to the ground to verify for themselves actually what is happening over there they do not do so, they sit at the comfort of their offices  and issue out licenses,” he explained

In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Blay said the inability of the two institutions to demarcate areas for mining has resulted in miners mining sacred places and forest reserves.

He cited instances where some sacred places and shrines within his constituency have been taken over by miners, resulting in the relocation of some gods.

“It looks as if we are mining all sacred areas, the gods we are relocating them, if you come to my area, Assou Kofi has been relocated, cemeteries are being mined, if you go to other areas forest reserves are being mined, so we need to get a no go area,” he suggested.

The MP also indicated that the same attitude by the regulating bodies has prompted illegal miners known as ‘galamsay’ operators to continue with their harmful act giving ‘no respect’ to the type and place of their mine.

By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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