UTAG, POTAG To Meet Over Government New Research Fund

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) met on Friday over plans by government to replace the book and research allowance enjoyed by its lecturers.

The lecturers are kicking against government’s plans to replace the allowance with a National Research Fund.

President of POTAG, Francis Atintonu said, the group will officially come out with a statement on government’s plans at the end of the meeting on Friday.

According to UTAG, the new proposal has not been properly thought through.

Earlier, the Vice President of UTAG, Kakraba Bakubo warned that the group will not call off its strike if government does not abandon the idea.

He said: “When we have a problem, you will not discuss it and the issues as very, very, very complex and trust me; you know UTAG will put up a fight and I know definitely POTAG would take the same stance as UTAG.”

Meanwhile,in an interview with the President of the University of Ghana branch of UTAG, Dr. Langbong Bimi said plans to scrap the book and research allowance will stall the quest to acquire knowledge for the development of the country.

He bemoaned the fact that government, over the years has failed to act on various research findings and consequently made them seem useless.

“It doesn’t make sense at all to say the over 3,000 lecturers in the country Ghana should not research. How do we get the knowledge? If it is out of our purview, what can we do?”