A motley group of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), identifying themselves as the ‘Silent Majority,’ have issued a three-day ultimatum to the association’s national leadership, calling for an immediate end to the current strike.
The concerned members argued that there was no justification for the strike, especially after Organised Labour had called off its action following government assurances to tackle illegal mining, popularly called galamsey.
This internal dissent within UTAG, a body representing university lecturers across the country, highlights mounting frustration among some members regarding the continuation of the industrial action.
The dissatisfied members argued during a press conference on Tuesday, October 15, that the strike lacks sufficient justification, particularly in light of recent developments.
Speaking to the media on behalf of the group, Professor Isaac Boadi, a senior academic and spokesperson for the concerned members, emphasised that UTAG’s leadership must reassess the situation and called for a more strategic and thoughtful approach to handling the ongoing negotiations with the government.
Expressing their discontent regarding the strike action, they proposed alternative solutions emphasising dialogue and collaboration among members and stakeholders.
As part of the proposal, they advised the leadership of UTAG to establish a team to monitor the government’s progress in addressing the galamsey crisis by October 18.
The group in a petition also asked the association’s leadership to invite all presidential and parliamentary candidates from mining constituencies to declare their support for national actions against illegal mining publicly.
They called on the media, political candidates, community leaders, and the security forces to unite in this critical fight for the future of Ghana’s natural resources.
In a related development, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has expressed deep concern about the ongoing strike of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) over the galamsey crisis.
NUGS has described the industrial action as counterproductive as it does not provide viable solutions to the issue on the ground.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Accra, NUGS President, Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh called on the Association to immediately suspend the strike which is taking a toll on the academics of innocent students.
NUGS President appealed to UTAG to reconsider the strike and adopt more constructive and pragmatic measures to assist the government in its fight against galamsey. He called on UTAG to rescind their decision and place the interests of students at the forefront of their actions, ensuring that education continues uninterrupted while contributing positively to the national effort against illegal mining.
