Ho Technical University (HTU) chapter of Teachers of Technical Universities and Polytechnics (POTAG) is demanding an immediate reconstitution of the governing councils of the universities and polytechnics to ensure smooth administration of the institutions.
According to the association, both academic and other key activities of all 10 technical universities and polytechnics in the country have virtually grind to a halt as a result of the dissolution of the councils since the change in government on January 7, 2017.
In a statement signed and issued yesterday by the local Chairman of HTU, Mr. Albert Laurent Sakabutu, POTAG registered its displeasure against the development, stating that the long delay has left a lot of anxiety among staff and students whose promotions and graduation are in limbo.
“Our students who are due for graduation and yet cannot be graduated are getting frustrated, depressed and constantly harassing university authorities and teachers with telephone calls on daily basis,” it said.
Against this backdrop, the group called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to, as a matter of urgency, announce the new governing councils or instead shutdown the institutions, since absence of the councils was gravely impeding the effective management of the technical universities and polytechnics.
“The June deadline given by the Minister of Education has elapsed and the Councils have not been constituted as promised and no communication has been given in that regard. Attempts, so far by POTAG, to get information regarding the status of the Councils only attracted the usual political rhetoric ‘plans are far-advanced.”
The statement also reminded government to expedite action on the payment of Book and Research Allowances for the 2016/2017 Academic year due the association members.
“Finally, we wish to appeal to the Parliament of Ghana to take a second look at the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845) and give a window of opportunity to Councils of tertiary institutions to be in an acting position and only be dissolved when new ones are constituted, given their strategic role in national development,” the statement said.
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