GNUPS kicks against NUGS’ decision

The Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) has distanced itself from threats by the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) to sue lecturers who go on strike.

NUGS is threatening legal action against the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) should these two bodies embark on a strike action this year.

A statement jointly signed by NUGS Co-ordinating Secretary, Amponsah Manu, and Obed Kyei Amponsah, Public Relations Officer, said inasmuch as NUGS seeks the welfare and wellbeing of students, GNUPS as a union does not see the necessity in the threat being issued out to lecturers, especially when there has not been a hint of any such intended action.

GNUPS said, in any case, polytechnics do not fall under the jurisdiction of NUGS, therefore issuing a statement to include polytechnic lecturers and making it seem as though GNUPS is involved is uncalled for, adding: “We do not believe that threatening our lecturers is the best way of resolving any misunderstanding when in recent times such issues have been resolved through dialogue.

“GNUPS is hereby dissociating itself completely from the threat issued by NUGS. We find difficulties in understanding what occasioned their statement because no intention is declared by lecturers to strike and again government has pledged commitment to address salary problems of lecturers this year,” the statement said.

GNUPS appealed to POTAG to consider the plight of students and the effects of strikes on development and always dialogue for a proper way forward.