UDS Students Plead With UTAG to Call Off Strike

University for Development Studies-Wa Campu

THE LEADERSHIP of the Students Representation Council (SRC) of the University for Development Studies-Wa Campus, has called on the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to call off its strike, to allow the academic calendar to continue smoothly.

The Central SRC President, Mr. Awudu Kanton, who was addressing a cross-section of the press at UDS-Wa Campus in the Upper West Region last Wednesday, urged UTAG that: "as difficult as it is, to reconsider their decision and accept the deal being proposed by the government so that this issue is solved once and for all, in order for students to enjoy the teaching services they have paid for".

Mr. Kanton said government should as a matter of urgency come to the aid of students through immediate negotiation with UTAG, so as to make them call off the strike to enable effective academic work to continue.

The SRC President said that students do not have resources to facilitate an extended stay on campus, and that having gone three months into the academic calendar, the financial situation of students are extremely precarious, if there are to do an additional month.

Mr. Kanton pointed out that should the strike action continue for 21days, the academic calendar will have to be rescheduled and this will affect the entire students, especially final year students, who are supposed to report to campus for their final year projects after examination.

He pleaded with the government to help fast-track all necessary arrangement so as to help resolve the current strike of UTAG.

In a related development, some students of the University for Development Studies -Wa Campus, have embarked on a peaceful demonstration in connection with the strike by UTAG members.

Last Thursday, the demonstrators marched through the streets of Wa, from the UDS campus and finally ended at the Regional Coordinating Council, where they were addressed by the Central SRC President of UDS, before presenting a petition to the Regional Minister.