NUGS gives Government ultimatum

Accra, Oct. 12, GNA - The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Thursday gave the Government up to the end of the week to address the strike by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) or it would embark on a massive nationwide demonstration.

Mr Abdulai Abdul-Rahaman, Press and Information Secretary of NUGS, who presented the Union's position at a press conference in Accra, said the Union had observed with utmost concern the insensitivity and non-commitment of the Government to finding a lasting solution to the strike action embarked on by NAGRAT.

"The Union is, therefore, giving the Government up to the end of this week to find an amicable solution to the strike action," he said. Mr Abdul-Rahaman said the action had become necessary because the issue of NAGRAT going on strike had become an almost annual affair and "we think the Government over the years should have found a lasting solution to it".

He said the inability of the Government to solve the perennial problem of NAGRAT was a clear demonstration of the Government's non-compromising and insensitivity to the plight of the graduate teachers and students.

Mr Abdul-Rahaman, however, appealed to the striking NAGRAT teachers to soften their stance to ensure an amicable resolution to the impasse. He said the students had suffered enough and it was time the Government addressed the concerns of the striking teachers.

"The Union would take the Government to task if any unfortunate thing should happen to the academic calendar," he said, adding that the Union would not sit down and allow the Government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to take the students and parents to ransom. Mr Abdul-Rahaman said it was unfortunate for the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to suggest to the heads of second cycle institutions affected by the strike action that they should engage the services of local teachers.

"This is a clear indication of the Ministry's non-commitment and insensitivity to the plight of the striking teachers and students in the country.

"To the Union, employing the services of National Service Personnel and local teachers is not the best antidote to the impasse...." He, therefore, called on all civil society organizations, religious groups and other stakeholders to impress upon the Government and the GES to immediately address the concern of the striking graduate teachers. Mr Abdul-Rahaman advised students, especially those in their final year in second cycle institutions, to continue to study hard and to remain focused. 12 Oct. 06