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Our Students Have Done Nothing Wrong; Let’s Resume Work – Opanyin Agyekum To University Lecturers
Dean of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum has welcomed the decision of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to suspend their strike action.
He is thankful the lecturers did not let their annoyance about how government is dealing with their grievances cause them to act in any manner that would have resulted in the students needlessly bearing the brunt of their actions.
The University teachers, who went on strike since the early part of last month on grounds that the government hasn’t met their demands for better conditions of service, on Monday, February 21, 2022 rescinded their decision following an emergency meeting held by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to evaluate their industrial action.
Temporarily Suspended
In a statement jointly signed by the group’s National President, Prof Solomon Nunoo and National Secretary, Dr Asare Asante-Annor, UTAG said it has “agreed to heed the advice of the eminent leaders, the Select Committee on Education and the court ruling to suspend our strike action…”
The suspension of the strike is expected to last till March 4 by which time UTAG says it hopes to have reached a favourable consensus with government during its deliberations.
Why UTAG Strike?
UTAG has been on strike since January 10, 2022, over government’s failure to review their conditions of service since 2017.
The Association wants government to restore their 2012 conditions of service which pegged the monthly income of entry-level lecturers at $2084 and also claims the current arrangement has reduced its members’ basic premiums to $997.84.
Prof. Agyekum’s Take
Making his submissions on Peace FM’s morning show ”Kokrokoo”, Prof. Kofi Agyekum held a view that the lecturers including himself should heed the decision by their executives.
Advising the teachers to go back to the classrooms, Prof. Agyekum stated it isn’t the students’ fault that their conditions of service haven’t been resolved, and therefore urged them to resume work while the government and UTAG leadership works out a compromise.
“….accept it that the students haven’t done us anything wrong…our grievances are with government....if we see it that way, we won’t act to the detriment of the students because of government’s actions or inactions”, he added.
Source: www.peacefmonline.com
The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for stronger action to promote gender equity and create more opportunities for women in the workplace.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining staff at the Presidency of Ghana to mark International Women’s Day.
The celebration was held under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Promoting Equity for Every Woman in the Workplace” and focused on recognising the achievements of women while reflecting on the work needed to ensure equal opportunities.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang extended warm wishes to women across Ghana and noted that women have always played key roles in the country’s communities and economic activities.
According to her, women in the past served as healers, traders and queen mothers who contributed to leadership and governance in traditional societies.
She explained that Ghana’s cultural history shows that women have long provided knowledge, leadership and innovation to help develop communities.
The Vice President however noted that current disparities require society to examine systems and structures that may have limited opportunities for women.
She stressed that advancing gender equity will require deliberate actions and the mentoring of young women to prepare them for leadership roles.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang recognised women whose work takes place in markets, streets and small trading spaces across the country.
According to her, these women form the backbone of local economies and continue to demonstrate resilience despite the difficult conditions they face.
She commended women working at the Presidency for their dedication and leadership and reaffirmed the need to promote respect, fairness and opportunity for every woman.
The Vice President further called on both men and women to work together to break barriers and ensure that women can fully contribute to Ghana’s development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
