Polytechnic students demonstrate over POTAG strike


Polytechnic students across the country are set to hit the streets tomorrow to protest a strike by their lecturers.

The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) has been on a nationwide strike for weeks over unpaid book and research allowances. The lecturers have vowed not to return to the classroom until arrears of the allowance are paid.

The strike has entered its third week, prompting authorities at the Kumasi Polytechnic to partially shut down the school.

Government has scrapped the allowance, replacing it with a National Research Fund.

The National Labour Commission says the strike is illegal, and has referred the issue to an independent arbitration.

But President of POTAG James Dugrah insisted that government must pay the money, adding that the association is not willing to go into any arbitration.

Meanwhile, as the impasse continues, the students, who are the victims of the situation are demanding the immediate return of their lecturers before a possible closure of the campuses this Thursday.

An executive of the Ghana Union of Polytechnic Students, Gilbert Nukomeko told Joy News’ correspondent Hubert Mawuli Yavi-Agbi in the Volta Region ‘we are embarking on this demonstration to express our grievances to both parties because we have dialogued with both parties but none of them is listening to us’.

He maintained that the students have paid their fees and have done nothing wrong to ‘suffer the consequences’ of the two parties’ belligerent attitude.

He hopes the demonstration will bring their lecturers back to classroom, but said they would have to go home if the lecturers fail to resume lectures.

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