The National Union of Ghana Ghana Students (NUGS) has asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene and ensure that the issues between the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the National Labour Commission (NLC) which have resulted in the strike, are resolved.
President of NUGS, Emmanuel Boakye Yiadom said this when the newly-elected executives of the students’ union paid a visit to the Mr Akufo-Addo at the seat of government on Thursday August 19 to table some concerns before the president.
He said that the strike is negatively affecting students in the country, a situation that warrants the intervention of the president.
“As a union we commend our minister and other government agencies in their ability to get UTAG to return to the negotiations because this is a matter that is really affecting Ghana students.
“At the end of the day we will still plead with both parties to take away all forms of entrenched positions such that the negotiations processes will not be prolonged or delayed. At this point we will call for your intervention and help to let our lecturers return to the classrooms.”
Mr Akufo-Addo told them that UTAG has agreed to return to the classroom after a long drama of negotiations.
The president further said a road map has been put in place to resolve the issues and he hoped that this road map will be adhered to by all parties.
“All of us are happy that the University lectures have agreed after some long drama negotiations to suspend the strike we are hoping very much some soring binding arrangement will be finally agreed on by the parties. There is a road map that has been established and hopeful both parties will make sure that this road map is carefully implemented,’ Mr Akufo-Addo said.
The application filed by the National Labour Commission (NLC) against the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has been struck out the Labour Division of the Accra High Court.
Lawyers of the NLC had told the court that the two parties had reached agreement on the matter.
UTAG and NLC were reported on Wednesday August 18 to have taken steps to discontinue the court case over the strike action by the union.
This was reached on Wednesday, August 18 after officials of UTAG and NLC had a meeting to discuss the way forward.
They are also taking steps to return to the negotiation table.
A statement said “That both parties (Government and UTAG) agree that there is a need to get back to the negotiating table from the week beginning Monday, August 23, 2021.
“That a road for negotiation, as agreed at previous consultative meetings between the parties, which imposes a one-month mandatory period beginning 23rd August 2021 for negotiations, shall be signed by both parties;
“That whilst the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations in conjunction with the NLC is taking steps to discontinue all legal processes against UTAG, UTAG will also take steps to suspend the ongoing strike action;
“That government acknowledges the need to improve the working conditions of University Teachers and shall treat this will all the seriousness it deserves.”
Earlier negotiations between the state and UTAG broke down, compelling the NLC to seek intervention from the courts.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana