President of the University of Cape Coast branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UCC) Dr Bert Boadi Kusi has described the University of Ghana UTAG’s (UG-UTAG) decision to dissociate itself from the National Association’s position on the Public University Bill (PUB) as a breach of the association’s constitution.
He said it as an attempt to taint the association’s image and ridicule its integrity.
The University of Ghana in a letter dated 12th June 2020, signed by its President and sighted by ATL FM NEWS stated that “It dissociates itself from the position of the National officers of UTAG that the Public University Bill be passed into law subject to the recommendation of UTAG”.
Speaking to ATL FM NEWS on the development, Dr Bert Kusi said the position taken by UG-UTAG is in direct violation of the association’s constitution and as such must be reversed.
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According to him, before the Bill was sent to parliament, members in their respective universities were engaged.
He explained further that at the time of the first engagement, it was only UG-UTAG and the UNER-UTAG that opposed the bill and called for it total rejection.
The remaining eight institutions according to Dr Boadi Kusi, endorsed the Bill on the basis that some concerns raised by the association in the bill be addressed by the parliamentary select committee on Education to reflect the position of UTAG before it is passed into law.
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Dr Kusi indicated that Parliament after reviewing the concerns raised by UTAG national sent a copy back to the association for a final review.
Dr Bert Kusi said UTAG national again constituted a committee which was made of up representatives from each member institution including President of UG-UTAG to review and ensure that the arguments raised concerning the Bill were given the needed attention by parliament to reflect UTAG’s position.
According to Dr Kusi, the final report from the constituted committee of which UG-UTAG was part of is what was sent to parliament. He said he was therefore surprised that the UG-UTAG will now put out a contrary view creating an impression that their views had not been considered in any of the association’s decisions.
Dr Kusi indicated that even though UG-UTAG had earlier objected and called for the total rejection of the Bill, their decision alone could not determine the fate of the remaining eight institutions who had called for a review.
He said an executive meeting will soon be convened to discuss the matter and find an amicable solution to the brewing tension.
Source: Kojo Dei/ATLFMNEWS
