Veep intervenes in Researchers? srtike

Accra (Greater Accra), 2nd June 99 -

Members of the Research Staff Association (RSA) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) who have withheld their services for three months have agreed to release all reports and breeder seeds to farmers.

This followed the intervention of the Vice President, Professor John Atta Mills, on May 14, about one month after the researchers refused to release breeder seeds to farmers.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Patrick Ofori-Danson, National President of RSA, said the vice-president has promised to help obtain the Literature Update and Technology Transfer Allowance (LUTTA) for the research staff grade of CSIR.

He said they were releasing the reports as well as breeder seeds to farmers to allow the vice-president to pursue the matter by the end of June as suggested by the sector minister, Mr Cletus Avoka.

Mr Ofori-Danson said the farmers were taken into consideration, because "we are in the wet season, and farmers are supposed to sow their seeds."

RSA members on March seven withheld selective withdrawal of all annual reports to government agencies after the government failed to honour their request for increased allowances.

They were demanding an increase in the LUTTA from 100 dollars a year plus 80,000 cedis every month as research allowance to 650 dollars a year.

Mr Ofori-Danson noted that teachers at the polytechnics are receiving 500 dollars a year as their book allowance after embarking on an industrial action in January this year.

He said their demand on the book allowance is to help them update their knowledge and be members of international professional associations for more information on science and technology.

"Our colleagues in the universities are now receiving 600 dollars a year as their book allowance".

Mr Ofori-Danson said they are looking forward to a favourable response and approval from the government by June ending, or "we will advise ourselves again."