Takoradi Polytechnic Chapter Of POTAG To Embark On Sit Down Strike

Takoradi Polytechnic

Takoradi polytechnic (T-Poly) chapter of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) are threatening to embark on a sit-down strike if the Book and Research Allowance for 2012/2013 academic year is not paid by the end of September 2013.

Speaking in an interview President of the Takoradi Chapter of POTAG, Mr Michael Asare Appiah said the decision to go on such tangent is because government is trying to turn a blind eye to paying their allowance.

According to him, government has not paid 2012/2013 “and right now we are in 2013/2014 academic year. When are they waiting to pay…it is long overdue and we cannot wait up to November just as they (government) did in the past”

“It seems like they are intentionally delaying the process. The documents they asked us to submit have already been submitted to the Ministry of Finance and so we were expecting that by now, it would have been forwarded to Controller and Accountant General. However, that has not been done and we are uncertain when this will be done” he indicated.

He bemoaned the notion that lecturers uses the money to conduct ‘only research’ hence if you are not undertaking any research, you cannot have the money.

“It is an ignoramus because lecturers do not use the money only for research. It is used for everything that aids in the kind of work we do; acquiring up to date books, teaching and other learning materials, research activities and many more”

He reiterated that if the money is not paid soon, the only option will be to go on a sit-down strike.