The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has emphasised its commitment to its ongoing indefinite strike, despite opposition by some 57 individuals calling itself the Silent Majority of UTAG.
The Silent Majority have given the National Executive Committee (NEC) until a three-day ultimatum which elapses on Friday to call off its indefinite strike.
These members have argued that the initial overwhelming vote from members across all 15 campuses was in support of the organised labour strike and not a separate UTAG strike.
However, the President of UG-UTAG, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has said the petition from the group has no bearing on the strike.
According to him, of the 57 individuals behind the petition, his checks have revealed 36 are not even university lecturers.
He added that, some of the lecturers listed as petitioners have publicly distanced themselves from the initiative, issuing disclaimers that they were included without their consent.
“There’s no way 57 people who are not all lecturers can describe themselves as a silent majority of lecturers with the audacity to give an ultimatum to close to 3,000 university professors,” Gyampo asserted.
He stated that while UTAG values solidarity among its members, there are concerns that some of those involved in the petition may not fully understand the issues at hand.
UTAG has no intention of engaging in public disputes with these individuals, some of whom are colleagues but the indefinite strike will remain in force.
He added the Association will not be swayed by a small group, especially those who do not represent the majority of lecturers.
Meanwhile, Prof Gyampo has said the leadership plans to engage them privately to explain the reasoning behind the strike and the Association’s discontent with the actions of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOSSAG) leadership regarding their handling of issues surrounding illegal mining.
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Read Prof Gyampo’s statement below: