The leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has been compromised, a social and political commentator, Owula Mangortey, has alleged.
His comment comes after UTAG backtracked on its decision to resume its strike today (8 October) on stalled contract negotiation.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show with sit-in host Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, Mangortey accused the president of UTAG of double standard.
“…Your leaders say they are seeking equity but they are not seeking equity with clean hands. What are the things you placed on the table that you wanted US$1,000 and came back to US$250.
“..Under what circumstances did your leadership go Nicodemusly to go and sign for something that your members are not aware of? What actually did they go and sign for?” Mangortey asked.
Accountability
“…Solomon Nunoo (UTAG president) has to explain, by what authority did he go to sign what he signed and now you are going back for discussion, please if you are seeking equity, you must come with clean hands.”
Mangortey is calling for unity within the leadership front of UTAG in order to earn the respect of stakeholders .
“We respect you our university teachers, the problem we stakeholders have with you is that most of you are too compromised, you have sold yourself to the political elite that anybody can call you, you snitch on each other…
“You have got to get your house in order… by what authority did he go and sign about US$125 million when the government said we are going to consult and come back on 250 dollars, they need to explain,” he added.
Background
In mid-August, UTAG suspended its strike to sit with the government to respect the terms of their conditions of service agreed upon in 2012.
The association is demanding the implementation of a 2012 Single Spine package which put entry-level lecturers on a salary equivalent of $2,084 while the current level puts lecturers’ salaries around $900.
After the one month moratorium for both parties to reach an agreement, UTAG on Tuesday (5 October) issued a statement saying, “unfortunately, within the one month moratorium, the employer never shifted its position even though UTAG made a number of concessions.”
Fred Dzakpata
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