The Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Finance at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Isaac Boadi, has expressed satisfaction with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) suspending its anti-galamsey strike.
In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Prof. Boadi, who is the convener for the ‘Silent Majority,’ stated that the move brings relief to both lecturers and students.
He clarified that the Silent Majority is not a militant group but emphasized that the timing of the strike was inappropriate.
UTAG began the strike on October 10, 2024, in response to the government’s perceived inaction on galamsey, which has severely impacted river bodies and forest reserves. The Silent Majority, comprising some UTAG members, on October 16, issued the National Executive Council (NEC) a three-day ultimatum to suspend their strike.
In response, the UTAG leadership indicated that they appreciate the opportunity to discuss the concerns raised by the Silent Majority but noted that the group includes several individuals who are not UTAG members.
However, Prof. Boadi asserted that it was not the aim of the Silent Majority to undermine the authority of the NEC.
According to him, what the over 6,000 members sought to do was find a more sustainable approach to addressing the galamsey menace.
“The Silent Majority is not a militant group, and we had no intention of breaking away from the mother body. This was the first time a group had opposed UTAG’s decision, and in academia, you are free to express yourself,” he stated.
“We did not insult them; we only stood up for what we believed was right because the problem is that we don’t yet know the causes of galamsey to identify solutions. Our expectation was for them to return to the discussion table,” he added.
Prof. Boadi emphasized that their concerns were primarily about procedural issues. “We educate, not train people to strike or act like Al-Qaeda,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, UTAG NEC has suspended the strike with immediate effect following a vote by its members across 15 campuses, of which three voted against the suspension.
ALSO READ: