UTAG strike: ‘There will be no exam for University of Ghana students until gov’t listens to us’ – Local President

As part of the move to drive home its demands, the local President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Dr. Samuel Nkumban has disclosed that, for the moment, no exam will be held for the University of Ghana students.

According to him, this decision forms part of the withdrawal of teaching services and related activities including the setting of examination papers, invigilation, grading exams, and processing of results for students.

“So until such time that government calls us and make offers that are acceptable to general members across the country, the withdrawal of teaching services is indefinite. There will be no exam under the circumstances,” Dr. Samuel Nkumban stated during an interview on Radio Univers.

Per the school’s academic calendar, first and final-year students of the premier University are expected to sit for the end of the second semester main examinations from Saturday, August 7, to Sunday, August 22, 2021.

The students, level 100 and 400, are currently in a revision week in preparation for this year’s exam.

In the meantime, it is unclear whether or not the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) and management of the school will, through their call, convince the lecturers to return to the classrooms.

In the interview, Dr. Samuel Nkumban noted the association will welcome “acceptable” offers from the government in the bid to resume teaching services.

Background

Members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana have embarked on an indefinite strike today, August 2, 2021, as they demand better services conditions.

They argued that the migration of its members onto the Controller and Accountant General Department’s payroll system will result in the loss of basic salaries and allowances.

The association has been asking the government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon with the government in 2012.

UTAG wants the basic plus market premium of a lecturer pegged at $2,084.42 in consonance with the 2012 conditions of service.