UTAG Rejects Claims Of Unilateral Strike Decision

The University Teachers Association of Ghana has denied with alacrity accusations made against the leadership of the association by some members, an NGO calling itself the "Silent Majority," that the current indefinite strike declared was unilaterally considered and finalized by UTAG's National Executive Committee devoid of collective input from members.

In a petition, the group urged leadership to call off the strike, citing the withdrawal of Organized Labor, which initially supported UTAG's position on galamsey. They argued that the strike was no longer justified without the support of Organized Labor.

However, in a response from UTAG's NEC dated October 15, 2024, the allegations were described as "unfounded and misleading." The association explained that it had declared the strike after broad consultations with its members on various university campuses. This consultative approach, argued the NEC, made sure that the actions taken were in direct tandem with the collective will of UTAG membership and not a decision of the few.

The leadership, therefore, pointed out that the date for the strike, October 10, 2024, was made known and effectively communicated to the NLC long before Organized Labor's withdrawal of support. UTAG reiterated that their strike was because of an urgent need to protect national interests, with particular reference to environmental damage occasioned by galamsey, which they had pointed out in a previous press release in September.

UTAG is, therefore, committed to the call for national welfare and must be guided by the collective voice of its members and not the unilateral interests of a few.