President of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), James Dugrah says he has been a member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 1992 but his political affiliation has nothing to do with its ongoing strike.
He indicated that, the claim he is championing the cause of the NPP by declaring an indefinite strike is “an insult to the integrity of POTAG members”.
James Dugrah disclosed this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, while reacting to a report by the Herald newspaper accusing him of sabotaging government.
Polytechnic Teachers have been on strike since May 15, 2014, demanding that government pays them their book and research allowance, which were in arrears. The strike action has led to an abrupt closure of all ten polytechnics in the country.
The Herald newspaper claimed the strike is part of a grand scheme by the POTAG president to make the Mahama-led administration unpopular.
But in a quick rebuttal, James Dugrah stated emphatically that “we are all level headed people with integrity so I cannot use my political affiliation to influence all of them”.
Conceding that he was the Upper West Regional Communications Director of the NPP in the round up to the 2012 general election, he stressed POTAG’s decision to go on strike is not politically motivated.
He maintained that POTAG just like any other group in the country has the right to demand payment of their book and research allowance which is their entitlement.
The POTAG president bemoaned how people are quick to draw politics into the bread and butter issues confronting the citizenry.
“POTAG is not a political party so our meeting is not an NDC or NPP congress. All my members have their political affiliations but we take collective decisions in the interest of the association,” he stated.
James Dugrah, urged his critics especially in government to focus on addressing the demands of POTAG rather than trivialities. Story by Ghana/Adomonline.com/Adwoa Gyasiwaa
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