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The University Technical Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has given the government a two-week ultimatum to review the service status of its members or to launch a series of demonstrations across the country.
TUTAG also claims its arrears and the migration of the salaries of the professors of the Bolgatanga and Wa Technical Universities.
At a press conference at the Tamale National President on Tuesday, Dr. Michael Akurugu Brigandi said the last time the government reviewed the condition of service for technical universities was in 2006, which he described as unfair treatment for the Union.
“TUTAG will do everything possible to pressure home the demand for a review of its terms of service, the migration of Bolga and Wa, and payment of arrears, if the government does not act within two weeks from the date of this release, “he said.
Reading a statement issued at the 39th TUTAG national congress held at Koforidua Technical University under the theme “Ensuring Violence-Free Elections, The Role of Technical University Professors”, Dr. Brigandi accused the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE ) and fair wages and the Wage Commission (FWSC) for delaying the migration of its members on the Wa and Bolga campuses to the PUSS, something the union said is not happy.
“TUTAG expects nothing less than a rapid migration from Wa and Bolga technical universities to the Public Universities Salary Structure (PUSS). Anything less than this will jeopardize the relative peace we currently enjoy on our campuses, ”added Dr. Brigandi.
Dr. Brigandi further expressed his disappointment at the government’s refusal to increase the research allocation of TUTAG members as was done with other universities.
He said that all the efforts made by the Association to get the government to pay these arrears have been useless.
The national president lamented the government’s inability to accredit competency-based academic programs aimed at producing the necessary manpower for the country.
He also questioned why any government agency will deliberately tap theory-based academics to evaluate practical programs.
Speaking on the theme this year, Dr. Brigandi admonished all political parties to demonstrate issue-based campaigns without inflammatory language. He said that TUTAG will not support any political party with the intention of dividing Ghanaians for their selfish interests.
“TUTAG will not support any political party that appears to divide us for cheap political gain,” he said.
The national president called on the media, CSOs and religious bodies to monitor and firmly rebuke any political party whose actions tend to spoil the December elections.
Furthermore, it called on its members to play a zealous role in shaping political discourse with the aim of promoting peace in the country.
“Society listens to us and depends to a great extent on our contributions. We must remain as bearers of contact in the search for peace of the nation before, during and after the elections, ”added Dr. Brigandi.
