General News of Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Source: Bernard Buachi

GAUA Calls Off Protracted Industrial Action

The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has suspended its industrial action.

The Association, after having a National Executive Council meeting at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology resolved to stand down considering the loss and pain the death of President Mills has caused the people of Ghana, as well as the clarion call made by H.E John Dramani Mahama for all to join hands in reconciling the nation as we mourn the expired President. They also state Former President Mills’ contributions to the cause of higher education in Ghana and efforts being made by the chairmen of the councils of the public Universities and the VCG in finding solutions to the impasse as reasons for their change of heart.

In a statement released on Monday 30th July, 2012 and signed by Joseph Gordon Mensah, National President of GAUA, the Association is suspending the protracted industrial action as “a mark of honour and respect to the person and the office of the President of the Republic and in solidarity with the good people of Ghana.”

The GAUA strike which started on the 14th May, 2012 has had a “very telling and devastating effect on the administration and management of the public Universities of Ghana.”

According to the statement, the strike was due to the “intransigence of the FWSC in the handling of the market Premium for GAUA”.

“While their counterpart staff segments of the Universities have been enjoying the single spine salary package since January 2012, members of GAUA continue to suffer the indignities to the detriment of the Ghanaian body-politic.”

While joining in the national week of prayer and mourning, GAUA called for a lasting solution to the “matter of GAUA and FWSC which has sadly brought the public Universities and Higher education to their knees.”

-Bernard Buachi Focus FM, KNUST, Kumasi.