UTAG calls off strike; Gov’t says it’s good news

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has called off its five-week old strike.

The aggrieved teachers resolved to go back to the classroom after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Ghana on Tuesday. The government has agreed to pay their book and research allowances for the 2013-14 academic year.

Under a seven-point agreement, the government has reaffirmed its resolve to pay the lecturers’ book and research allowances under the existing arrangement for the 2013-14 academic year.

The Secretary of UTAG, Dr Samuel A. Atintono, confirmed that the strike has been called off officially and that the association will “make an input” into the document that will help create the National Research Fund that is likely to replace the book and research allowances.

“For now we are satisfied, and we’ll go to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to negotiate about the National Research Fund,” Dr. Atintono told the media after the official announcement.

He gave a clear indication that UTAG is in a good position to make up for the lost period (three weeks) of the new academic year when they return to the lecture halls.

A deputy minister of education Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the development as “good news for the government."

He told Accra-based Citi FM Wednesday that they “hope to continue with this spirit and see to negotiation for the national research fund.”