Lecturers' strike halts academic calendar at university
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2003 - The crisis at the University of Ghana, Legon, remained unchanged as the University Teacher's Association of Ghana's (UTAG) strike action entered its ninth day.
The students were confused and did not know whether to leave for home or remain on campus yesterday to ascertain the situation there, it found out that as a result of the strike most of the student just roamed around, chatting. Others left for the city every morning to do whatever they wished.
In the light of these the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University, yesterday said the students would advise themselves should the lecturers' strike continue.
According to the vice president, Francis Acquaye, the SRC on Tuesday delegated some people of the students "to seek police permission to carry out whatever action we would decide on doing". He said the perpetual strike by UTAG was having a very serious social and economic impact on them.
He explained that some non-residential students always paid lorry fares to the university only to go back disappointed because of the strike. He also expressed concern that the situation was likely to affect the academic calendar or even lead to the closure of the university.
A major source of worry to the SRC, he said was the fact that foreign students at the university were also suffering the pinch. He urged the government to give UTAG a good hearing on its demand for an amicable settlement of the impasse.
When contacted, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Dean of Students, gave the assurance that the strike action would not have any serious impact on the university. He said the strike could not lead to the closure of the university as being speculated.
Already, he said, some of the lecturers had begun lecturing and that was an indication that the strike action would last long. "Immediately the strike action is called-off, the lecturers would be rushed to complete their back-logged topics," he said, adding, "there is no way that we shall postpone this year's calendar".
Dr Antwi-Danso also expressed concern about the negative signals that would be sent to the international community as a result of the action. He therefore appealed to UTAG to resume work unconditionally, while negotiations on the demands continued. - Times
