Though the ultimatum of Polytechnic Teachers� Association of Ghana (POTAG) given to government will be due next year, January 2014, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of POTAG, Mr. Edmund Oppong-Preprah has warned that, if the current administration fails to comply with their demands, they should look forward to protracted academic year in the various polytechnics in the country.
Finance Minister, Hon. Seth Terkper on November 19th 2013, stated that the Market Premium and Book and Research Allowances have been replaced with Research Fund which will take care of the teachers� research activities upon application.
Against this backdrop, POTAG at its 21st National Delegates Congress at Bolgatanga discussed government�s position on the Book and Research Allowances with the conclusion that the attempt of government is �premature, misplaced and calamitous�.
POTAG is of the view that there is a very serious misunderstanding of the concept of the Book and Research Allowances by government.
Speaking on the issue on Hot Fm, Mr. Oppong-Preprah averred that the Research Fund stated in the 2014 budget is unlawful since the stakeholders involved were not consulted in government�s decision to change the condition of service accepted by all the partners.
��..if the President insists on continuing with the Research Fund which is illegal as against the lawful condition of service, then he does not want the work of the Polytechnic teachers to continue and we anticipate an extended academic year�..we will not sit down and allow this to actually happen; any move that we have to adopt to get what we want, we will follow suit,� he cautioned.
He was hopeful that the decision of POTAG will stand due to the fact there is an agreement from all the members in the 10 regions to embark on this course.
��.this time, he (President Mahama) is not dealing with one Polytechnic institution but all the institutions in all the 10 regions�..we see this as a ploy by government to antagonize us; it�s really sad but we are also ready to face government squarely on this issue,� he stressed.
<<Print>>