POTAG beats war drums over unpaid research allowances

The Ho Polytechnic chapter of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) has expressed frustrations over government’s delay in paying the book and research allowances to its members for the just ended 2015-16 academic year.

A statement issued by the local POTAG indicated the allowances which are supposed to be paid at the start of every academic year, are still outstanding despite an end of May 2016 deadline given to them by the deputy minister in charge of tertiary education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The situation, according to the statement signed by the Ho Polytechnic chairman of POTAG Albert Laurent Sakabutu, is raising tensions among its members, who keep demanding when the allowances will be paid.

"This delay is creating a lot of tension on all Polytechnic campuses leading to some members agitating for industrial action."

The group is, therefore, urging the government to expedite action on the payment of the book and research allowances to forestall any unintended disruption in the academic calendar of polytechnics.

"We are by this statement requesting Government to take the necessary urgent steps to get these allowances paid as soon as possible to avoid any further disruptions in the academic calendar."

Below is the full statement

DELAY IN THE PAYMENT OF BOOK AND RESEARCH ALLOWANCES CAUSING TENSION ON POLYTECHNIC CAMPUSES.

The payment of Book and Research allowance to Polytechnics Teachers in Ghana is an annual statutory requirement enshrined in the conditions of service of the Polytechnic Teachers. These allowances are supposed to be paid at the beginning of every academic year, which normally begins in September of every year.

In September 2016, we will be due for the payment of the 2016/2017 academic year Book and Research Allowances, but it is frustrating to note that even the allowances for the 2015/2016 academic year have since not been paid.

The delay in the payment of these allowances in the past has led to numerous and protracted labour agitations in all Polytechnics resulting in the disruption of both academic work and calendar.

It is therefore refreshing to note in February 2016 at POTAG handing over ceremony in Accra, through the Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education that, Government has taken serious notice of the dire consequences of the annual ritual of labour agitations on academic work in respect of the delay in the payment of the Book and Research Allowances to the Polytechnic Teachers.

He therefore promised that the Ministry will expedite action on the inputs for the payment of the 2015/2016 academic year allowances and make sure payment is made latest by the end of May 2016.

We are now in July 2016 inching towards August 2016 yet these allowances have not been paid and we have no clue again as to what exactly is responsible for the delay.

In fact, no hour passes by without a call from at least a member demanding to know when exactly these allowances will be paid. This delay is creating a lot of tension on all Polytechnic campuses leading to some members agitating for industrial action.

This is a wake-up call for Government and we are by this statement requesting Government to take the necessary urgent steps to get these allowances paid as soon as possible to avoid any further disruptions in the academic calendar.

We also entreat Government to begin working on the inputs for the payment of the 2016/2017 academic year allowances, which will be due in September 2016 to promote teaching, research, innovation, and development, which are the key performance indicators and benchmarks for evaluating the successes of the Technical University Era.

A stitch in time saves nine!!

ALBERT LAURENT SAKABUTU

CHAIRMAN OF POTAG, HO CHAPTER