The Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has suspended its strike following a meeting with Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
In a statement issued by TUTAG announcing the latest development, the group said: “After listening to the Education Minister, we observed that there are still individuals in political positions that citizens can trust”.
“From our observations of his verbal and non-verbal communication, we could see the natural sincerity that was oozing from both this verbal and non-verbal communication”, the group said.
The statement said: “Our encounter with Dr. Yaw OseiAdutwum was the beginning of the shift of TUTAG from mistrust to mutual trust, hence the decision to reconsider our position.”
The group noted: “Though our strike has been declared legal, and we could have decided to remain on strike till all our issues were resolved, we wish to inform the Education Minister that our decision to suspend the strike with immediate effect was based on our trust and confidence in his assurances”.
“The word worthy of note is ‘suspended’. We are only suspending the strike to give Dr. Yaw OseiAdutwum the benefit of the doubt”, TUTAG said.
TUTAG embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday, 14 June 2021, despite a directive from the National Labour Commission against it.
The technical university teachers explained that the decision to strike as a result of unfavorable conditions of service as well as the nonpayment of research allowance arrears and tier-two pension contributions for its members.
Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Fosu-Gyasi, UTAG Vice President, UENR Chapter who was reported to have stated jubyuithat “NAPO never disrespected us like Adutwum- UTAG Chapter fires Education Minister” has rubbished the said publication as false.
In a disclaimer statement, he said the above story which was modified to “We are not kids, your conduct is disrespectful” and attributed to I, Dr. Samuel Fosu-Gyasi is not only false but misleading.
He explained that “I have not made such pronouncements and I entreat the public and offended parties to treat the article as fake news”.
He, however, concluded that ” the article is not only of maleficent interest but from the imagination of the writer to achieve whatever aim best known to the publishing site”.
