President John Dramani Mahama has called for an amicable resolution of the dispute between the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) after meeting UTAG leaders at the Jubilee House on Thursday, November 12, GBC and MyJoyOnline report.
UTAG, led by its President, Prof Vera Ogeh Fiador, renewed its demand for the removal of GTEC's Director-General, GBC reports. GhEcho has not seen a public response from GTEC.
'A very fine balance'
"It's a very fine balance between overreach and regulation," Mahama said, according to MyJoyOnline. "And so we must see where to draw the line so that we maintain the autonomy and academic independence of our tertiary institutions, but at the same time, have the regulator carry out its duties."
He added that government was "ready to dialogue and engage" to resolve the issues between UTAG and the leadership of GTEC, MyJoyOnline reported.
UTAG's concerns
Prof Fiador said the association's concerns stemmed from what it sees as an erosion of university autonomy and an expansion of GTEC's powers into the running of universities. "What we have seen over the period is a removal of university autonomy, the powers of councils, and overreach that results in the regulator getting into the affairs of the day-to-day management of the universities," she said, according to MyJoyOnline.
She said UTAG was not opposed to regulation. "What we seek is a regulatory environment that is enabling and helps us to achieve national development in the best interests of all," she added.
According to GBC, the delegation also raised the proposed National Research Fund, the Book and Research Allowance, the retirement age of lecturers, recruitment and emoluments. It asked for import duty exemptions on vehicles and research equipment for its members, and for more student hostels on public university campuses.
Arbitration panel
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu updated the delegation on the work of an arbitration panel chaired by his deputy, Dr Clement Apaak, to resolve the disagreement between UTAG and the GTEC Director-General, GBC reports. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to academic freedom.
Mahama said the government intends to partner the private sector to build student hostels on public university campuses, according to GBC. He said a tight compensation budget limits new public sector appointments, but expressed optimism that continued economic growth would create room to improve conditions of service.
MyJoyOnline, in a separate report on the meeting, also said UTAG raised its demand for the removal of the GTEC Director-General and that the Apaak-led panel was working to settle the matter.