The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has stated emphatically that the announcement made by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, about the freeze on hiring should not apply to public universities.
According to UTAG, the whole of 2022 has thus far seen no additional staff employed in any of the pubic universities as a result of lack of clearance to do so.
What is more, the Association said, the expected increase in enrolment for the 2022/23 academic year and the introduction of new programmes to meet the country’s developmental needs require that more staff are employed.
“The straight–jacket announcement of a freeze of employment in the public sector should not apply to public universities, as lecturers are already over–burdened with ever increasing student numbers.”
These were contained in a press statement released by leadership of UTAG after a two-day meeting at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani, Bono Region.
The meeting on Monday and Tuesday discussed issues to do with the strike embarked upon by members of the Association on Monday, October 17.
The meeting, according to the statement, resolved to continue the strike unabated.
“However, all essential services listed by the various local unions and branches of the Association, must continue to remain outside the purview of the strike action.”
They called on government and all stakeholders to be proactive in ongoing settlements in order not to disrupt the 2022/23 academic calendar.
UTAG also reminded government about the review of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) and the implementation year for the 2019 Labour Market Survey Report and other similar key interventions.
“These agreements reached have been signed and are not subject to renegotiation in any form or shape,” UTAG warned.
“We call on the Employer to prepare for their implementation in January 2023 as already agreed. We warn or serve notice that there would be more industrial action from our members, and the ranks of other labour unions, should Government fail to adhere to its own agreements with us, and/or appreciate our magnanimous proposals and recommendations.”
