The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is standing firm against a breakaway faction known as the ‘Silent Majority of UTAG’, which has called for an end to the ongoing strike action initiated by the association. In a strong rebuttal issued on Tuesday, October 15, the President of the University of Ghana branch of UTAG emphasized that the association would not allow any external forces to disrupt their unity or undermine their objectives.
The ‘Silent Majority of UTAG’ recently issued a three-day ultimatum to UTAG’s national leadership, claiming that the ongoing strike has become unjustified. They pointed to the recent withdrawal of strike actions by Organised Labour in light of government commitments to address illegal mining, also known as galamsey. This group, consisting of 57 members, argued that their position reflected a broader consensus among university lecturers, and they demanded an immediate cessation of the strike.
However, UTAG’s President dismissed the group’s claims, stating that they would not engage in public disputes or allow their front to be divided by individuals not part of the association. “It would be fratricidal for us to fight them publicly. We won’t allow our front to be broken by anyone who isn’t part of us,” he declared. He also extended an invitation to the ‘Silent Majority’ for private discussions to clarify the issues surrounding the strike.
Addressing the legitimacy of the breakaway group’s stance, the UTAG President pointed out that a significant number of those in the group are not even university lecturers. “Out of the 57 people, 36 are not University Teachers. Many of the remaining lecturers have issued public disclaimers stating they never consented to being part of anything,” he noted, questioning how such a group could claim to represent the interests of nearly 3,000 university professors who voted in favor of the strike.
Despite the internal dissent, UTAG remains resolute in its position. The President reaffirmed that the indefinite strike will continue until the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG decides otherwise, highlighting that the collective decision to strike was made in response to the association’s frustrations with the government’s handling of issues related to illegal mining.
The statement concluded with a reminder that UTAG’s commitment to its cause remains unwavering, stating, “UTAG’s indefinite strike, which could not be overturned by the less than 57 lecturers, remains in force until the NEC of UTAG decides otherwise.”
Source: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1349077/we-wont-allow-our-front-to-be-broken-ug-utag.html
