Members of the Takoradi Polytechnic (T-Poly) branch of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) are likely to lay down their tools if government fails to pay their annual Book and Research allowance for the 2012/2013 academic year as soon as possible.

According to them, polytechnic lecturers throughout the country depend on the allowance to undertake research activities, acquire books, teaching and other learning materials to update their knowledge and enhance their teaching skills.

They wondered how members across the country could operate effectively without the allowance meant for the purchase of teaching and learning materials.

They therefore called on the government to expedite action on the payment of the allowance to avoid any unrest on Polytechnic campuses.

Addressing a press conference at the T-Poly POTAG office in Takoradi yesterday, Michael Appiah, the Local President of POTAG, indicated that tension was mounting on the various polytechnic campuses due to the delay in request for submission of inputs for the payment of 2012/2013 academic year’s book and research allowance.

“We, the Takoradi Polytechnic chapter of POTAG, wish to bring to the attention of the government, Ministry of Finance and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) that tension is mounting on the various campuses,” he stressed.

The T-POTAG president indicated that despite the fact that the allowance being demanded relate to the 2012/2013 academic year which has ended, the members were uncertain when the Ministry of Finance would sanction the payment.

“We are therefore appealing to the government to expedite action on the payment of the allowance. We shall cooperate with the legitimate processes to ensure prompt payment of the allowance concerned,” he stressed.

The Assistant President of T-Poly POTAG, Peter Awini was present at the press conference.