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The University Teachers Association of Ghana has categorically mentioned that lecturers will not be returning to the classrooms on Monday (21 February).

Speaking on The Forum on Asaase Radio 99.5 on Saturday (19 February), Prof Solomon Nunoo, the president of UTAG said there will be no teaching on Monday on any of the campuses in the country.

He maintains that the association will meet to evaluate the request from the parliamentary select committee on education to call off the strike and return to the negotiating table.

“We’ll still be on strike this coming Monday and we’ll not be returning to the classroom. When we met Parliament last Thursday, the government gave an indication that they want us to sit and talk about the issue for which reason we asked for a period so that it gives room for us to talk to the employers.

“…So, at the moment, this is where we are and we’ll be convening a meeting to evaluate and access whether the request from the parliamentary select committee will receive a favourable response from UTAG.”

“Also, concerning the issue of the court action, that one as I told you, we have instructed our lawyers to try and set it aside which they’re doing at the moment. So, on Monday there wouldn’t be any lectures on any of the campuses.”

Earlier news indicated that the leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) had agreed in principle to call off the five-week-long strike after meeting with the Education Committee of Parliament.

The meeting which had the leadership of UTAG, Fair Wages, Minister for Education and Minister for Employment and Labor Relations is said to have lasted for hours.

Speaking to the media, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the ranking member of the Education Committee of Parliament said “In principle on our appeal, they have agreed (to call off strike) on the condition that the government is ready to sit down with them immediately for them to resolve outstanding matters. The minister gave us the assurance that they are going to be committed once the committee has directed, there’s no way he as the leader of the government delegation will fail to meet with them,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the substantive motion is still in court, and it is expected to be heard on Tuesday 22 February 2022. UTAG believes that they have a good case.