Ghana: Asking teachers to resign over poor conditions of service is ‘foolish talk’ – Ransford Gyampo

A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo has responded to a comment by the Head of Public Affairs at the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), to the effect that unhappy teachers should resign from their jobs.

Speaking on Accra-based 3FM on Thursday, Mr. Ankrah said members of the University Teachers Association (UTAG), who are currently on strike cannot continue with the industrial action if they want to enter into meaningful negotiations, towards an amicable resolution of the matter.

According to Mr. Ankrah, if the disgruntled lecturers are unhappy with their conditions of service, they should resign.

“You cannot negotiate while you’re on strike so they must call off the strike before they can engage. That is what the Labour Commission will recommend per the law. If the employee is not happy with anything, the best thing is to resign”, Mr. Laryea said.

But in a Facebook post on Thursday, Professor Gyampo indicated that, “telling teachers that if they aren’t happy with their conditions of service, they should resign, is the most foolish talk that can only proceed from the buccal cavity of a small-minded person who couldn’t fully benefit from formal education”.

Speaking on JoyNews on Sunday, he stressed that the planned industrial action reflects the Association’s anger over government’s failure to honour its promises to them.

According to him, UTAG is only interested in seeking the welfare of its members, stressing that the impending strike is devoid of any political underpinnings.

“…this has nothing to do with taking a position against government or being in bed with the opposition. It has everything to do with articulating and projecting and fighting for better conditions of service for our members”, Prof Gyampo stated.

source: myjoyonline.com