{"id":41170,"date":"2014-08-22T15:21:13","date_gmt":"2014-08-22T15:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=41170"},"modified":"2014-08-22T17:15:44","modified_gmt":"2014-08-22T17:15:44","slug":"ug-cannot-re-open-due-to-utag-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/08\/ug-cannot-re-open-due-to-utag-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"UG to remain closed over UTAG strike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although tertiary institutions in Ghana have been given the permission to re-open school after earlier restrictions by the Education Ministry, the University of Ghana (UG) authorities say the school cannot re-open on the proposed date.<\/p>\n

Tertiary institutions were asked to suspend their re-opening dates due to fears of a possible spread of the Ebola disease by international students some of whom come from the affected Ebola countries in West Africa.<\/p>\n

The sector Minister, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman has promised the government will dispatch health professionals together with the requisite protective equipment to all tertiary institutions.<\/p>\n

However, with the ongoing strike by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), UG authorities say they will remain closed.<\/p>\n

The Acting Registrar of the University of Ghana, Enoch Amartey told Citi News,<\/strong> until the UTAG strike is over, the school will remain closed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the government is able to resolve the UTAG strike, then the university will come out with as to when it will re-open,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He indicated that the school issued a statement announcing the decision but \u201cit unfortunately coincided with the government saying that tertiary institutions have to re-open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr. Amartey said the University of Ghana is maintaining its position \u201cthat it\u2019s not because of Ebola that we are not re-opening but because of the UTAG strike.\u201d<\/p>\n

UTAG has been on strike for about a month following the refusal of government to pay its members their research and book allowance.<\/p>\n

UTAG members joined their colleague Polytechnic teachers who have been n strike for close to four months over the same issue.<\/p>\n

The Education Ministry has promised to settle the payment but the two teacher unions are adamant to return to work until the payment is effected.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nFollow @osamidan<\/a>
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