The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the National Labor Commission(NLC) are scheduled to appear in court today, Thursday, February 3,2022 in connection with the former’s ongoing strike.
The NLC is asking the Supreme Court for an interlocutory injunction to force the striking lecturers to return to work.
UTAG members on all campuses are on strike in order to force the government to restore the service conditions agreed upon in 2012.
A lecturer’s Basic plus Market Premium was set at $2,084.42 in 2012 under the conditions of service.
UTAG has complained that the current arrangement has reduced the basic premiums for its members to $997.84.
The nearly month-long strike has caused concern among students, who fear that the academic calendar will be disrupted.
The UTAG leadership has already stated their willingness to face the National Labor Commission in court.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo, General Secretary of the University of Ghana Chapter of UTAG, stated that the association is unaffected by the legal proceedings.
“No one is bothered by the suit. We knew what the NLC was going to do, and we were prepared for it. They even procrastinated, and it took them a long time to appear in court.
The court is presided over by competent judges who will be able to assess the case’s merits. It should be noted that the court denied our earlier request for an ex-parte injunction to prevent us from continuing with the strike. So we’ll be there in person on Thursday to explain why our strike should continue. That is what we intend to do, so we will face the NLC in court.”
However, the National Labor Commission (NLC) believes it will prevail in its legal battle against the striking lecturers.
Ofosu Asamoah, Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, stated that the lecturers do not have a strong case.
“We have until Thursday to appear in Court.” So we’ll just have to wait to make our case. The Court will make the next decision. If, as UTAG claims, they have a valid point, the Court will rule on it. What matters is that whatever happens is in Ghanaians’ best interests.”
