The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is unhappy with President Nana Akufo-Addo concerning his response to critics who have expressed divergent views on the Universities Bill which is yet to be laid in parliament.
Mr Akufo-Addo insists the new Universities Bill will not, in any way, undermine academic freedom in public universities as being peddled by critics.
Addressing the first session of the University of Professional Studies’ 11th Congregation at the UPSA Auditorium, President Akufo-Addo said: "The flimsy allegations being perpetrated that the bill will undermine academic freedom are deliberate mischief-making and disingenuous".
In a statement released on Thursday, 4 July 2019, UTAG National President, Dr Eric Opoku Mensah, said the association “finds the President’s description of the differing views by our cherished members of UTAG on the bill as unfortunate”.
He emphasised that: “UTAG also finds the description worrying and prejudicial, particularly when the Ministry of Education has assured us that it is considering the concerns of UTAG and those of other stakeholders before the bill is tabled before parliament”.
He underscored the importance to review the bill and further consultations before being laid in parliament and added that: “UTAG is strongly opposed to the Bill in its current form and that the proposed bill should be improved from its ‘zero draft stage’ to incorporate the critical views which have been expressed by key stakeholders”.
Dr Mensah said their position “will not change until the key concern of UTAG has been addressed in the good interest of public universities and Ghana.”.
“We wish to caution that failure to broadly consult could portend great danger for the smooth running of public universities in Ghana and UTAG should not be blamed if that becomes the case,” he concluded.
Source: classfmonline.com
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The autocratic way Napo and Nana Addo are running our educational system will bring the down fall of the NPP. Look at the bogus shift system and rushed educational reforms. 2020 is coming
All these associations must be disbanded because they are impediments to the progress of the country, what kind of a country are we building with s many associations who think they must be consulted before the country moves on and the most annoying part is their executives think they are on the same level with th he government so any decision they must be consulted! if we rely on some few people's selfishness this country will never progress! the government was voted by the people of the whole Ghana while UTAG is for some group of people and they can't decide for the plans and visions of the people's government! In fact Ghana is becoming lawless with all these associations springing up and opposing every initiative of the government, if they will make things difficult for the government and the people then the government should be looking somewhere for teachers for the public Universities so should in case these people activate their evil plans you employ those on call ! There are so many Ghanaians teaching abroad in universities who would be glad to help their nation. Sometimes bold decisions must be taking on intimidations! Ronald Reagan a former president of the Free world (USA) once did something the American people clapped for him, that this is the man America need. Some American pilots of commercial planes thought they could intimidate the government with a strike and the next thing they found themselves were they were all unemployed, President Reagan replaced them with the Air Force officers when he found travellers stranded at airports, he commanded the Air Force officers to take over those planes and send those passengers to their respective destinations and Case Closed. It should happen in Ghana. Tired of you people with know it all attitude.
PLEASE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES ABOUNDS. WHY DO YOU NOT WANT TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND LEAVE THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ALONE? YOU SWIM OR YOU SINK ENOUGH OF UTAG MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT PROFESSORS!