The Teachers and Educational Workers Union of the TUC (TEWU-TUC) is threatening to disrupt operations of public universities if the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) continues to engage a rival group in the appointment of university governing councils.
At a news conference in Accra on May 8, the General Secretary of TEWU-TUC, King James Azortibah, issued a strong warning to GTEC.
He said the Commission’s ongoing engagement with the breakaway group, TEWU-GH, in constituting university boards is unacceptable.
Just last week, TEWU-GH met with the Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, claiming they should be given the mandate to represent staff on university councils.
But statistics show otherwise — TEWU-TUC boasts over 80,000 members across the country, while TEWU-GH has just about 2,500 members nationwide.
“The fact that a group that is mandated by law to represent a workers group, another group gets formed and come saying that we have the numbers. Are they the only groups on the university campuses? We have the senior staff association there, they are not in Council, we have FUSSAG, they are not in Council, we have GAUA they are not in Council. Are they not also having members? But they all come under us and there is any problem. We seek the interest of the workers of the public universities so we will resist it,” he said.
The leadership of TEWU-TUC is now demanding that GTEC treats all unions fairly, warning of possible protests and disruptions on campuses if their concerns are not addressed.
“The Director-General is not neutral, he has an interest, we know what he was pursuing. And we want the attention of his Excellency to be brought that if care is not taken, we will make the public universities very ungovernable,” he cautioned.
The Secretary-General of the TUC, Joshua Ansah backed the position of TEWU-TUC.
“We want to urge the vice chancellors and all those who matter to read their history about TEWU of TUC and the newly born TEWU GH. In some jurisdiction, it will not be entertained at all. Using TEWU Ghana, it is unheard off,” he stressed.
“I think that it is rightful for TUC to back affiliates fighting a just cause because the law and the Act are in their favour,” Mr Ansah said.
As tensions rise, the Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, is yet to meet with both unions to resolve the dispute.
It remains to be seen how GTEC will navigate the growing tensions within the education sector. For now, TEWU-TUC is standing its ground.
