Alhaji Banda appeals to UTAG to call off strike

Alhaji Asoma Abu Banda, Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has appealed to the members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to call off their strike.

He urged UTAG to get back to the classroom, while they continue their negotiations with the government to resolve their labour dispute.

Alhaji Banda made the appeal during the 17th Congregation of the University at the Weekend in Winneba.

He said if the strike was to prolong, it might lead to some students taking to armed robbery and prostitution.

The Chancellor promised to team up with his fellow University Chancellors and Vice Chancellors to ensure that they found a lasting solution to the strike so that academic activities in public universities were not disrupted.

He said: “The result of the strike makes all Ghanaians to suffer. Let’s sit down and talk to each other; let’s learn to accept our faults and apologize for any errors if the need be”.

Prof Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice Chancellor of UEW, said the University was compelled to increase its intake of regular students to at least 7,500 for the 2013/2014 academic year.

He said that increase of about 50 per cent was as a result of the two batches of final year students of the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination graduates that would be turned out by Senior High Schools at the end of the on-going examination season.

Dr Emmanuel Kenneth Andoh, (aka Okofo Amoako Bondam III, Omanhene of Enyan-Maim Traditional Area), Chairman of the University Council said, UEW has put in place measures to remain the premier University in Distance Education in the country.