Lecturers of the Ghana Technology University College (GTUC), yesterday began an indefinite strike over what they claimed was lack of government’s interest in constituting a governing council for the institution.
According to them, the absence of a governing council was hampering effective academic work and that they would not return to the lecture halls until the council was appointed and properly inaugurated.
The Chairman of the GTUC Lecturers Association, Mr Samuel Kingsford Seglah announced at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
He said, major policies of the Interim Management Team (IMT) that was set up after the removal of the former President of the GTUC, Professor Osei Darkwa a year ago could not be implemented because of the absence of a governing council.
Mr Seglah indicated that, issues concerning promotion and key appointments have been on hold while their salaries had not been adjusted since 2014, non- performing assets which could have been disposed off to settle part of the college’s indebtedness are also wasting away.
He also bemoaned the delay in the passage of the GTUC Bill which should have given the legal backing for the GTUC to become a full public university, and urged government and parliament to as a matter of importance, expedite action on the passage of the GTUC Bill.
The Chairman stated that, the IMT has so far not given any strategic direction while their decisions have been adhoc in nature stating that a careful analysis of the IMT reign revealed a lot of infractions that needed to be addressed quickly because the institution cannot continue to run by an interim management adding, that, “We want the interim management dissolved now and a substantive management put in place as some of their adhoc decisions and actions are rather affecting the structures of the college”.
Mr Seglah said, the association last year while on strike urged government to address the weak governance issues as well as initiate a forensic audit into its operations and recent findings of EOCO vindicated the association but issues of the weak governance structure still needed to be addressed.
He said several letters to have government address their concerns have gone unheeded hence the strike action as there was no option left.
“Faculty is left with no other option than withdraw all academic services and shall remain in force until all our grievances are met and the action affects all our campuses in Kumasi, Takoradi, Ho, Koforidua and Accra,” the chairman said.
Mr Seglah assured the public that the GTUC academically remains a place of choice in the country and the West Africa sub-region as it has been ranked the number one independent university for three consecutive times.
By Lawrence Vomafa-Akpalu
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