The Ministry of Education has announced that the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) has called off its strike with immediate effect.

A statement issued by the Minister, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah in Accra said this follows the successful mediation by two religious leaders. The statement said the Ministries of Education and Employment and Social Welfare invited the Reverend Dr Asante Antwi, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Conference and Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, Deputy Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, to mediate in the impasse between POTAG and the Council of Polytechnics. "Following successful deliberations, POTAG has agreed to call off its strike action with immediate effect.” Last week, the government directed that payment of salaries of members of POTAG, who had embarked on an illegal strike for better salaries and conditions of service be withdrawn. Mr Spio-Garbrah said in a statement in Accra, that the withdrawal of salary would remain for the duration of the strike action. The statement explained that non-teaching staffs of the polytechnics were not affected by the directive and should continue their normal working schedule at their various posts.

It said that at a meeting with the Chairmen of Councils of Polytechnics, the Council of Polytechnic Principals and POTAG, on Tuesday, August 29, the Minister stated that the on-going strike action is a violation of the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the parties. It said the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and all stakeholders, on August 9, signed an agreement on the conditions of service for Polytechnic Teachers based on the Constitution and the Laws of Ghana.

Although the Agreement on the Condition of Service for Polytechnic Teachers expire in October 2001, the Minister said government was willing to advance the negotiations for new conditions of service in order to consider the detailed proposal of POTAG. The statement said government also offered to grant POTAG a 20 per cent salary increase and an increase in Research Allowance in the same proportion as enjoyed by the universities. It said in spite of this major concession, POTAG had refused to compromise and persisted with its illegal strike action thereby disrupting academic programmes at the various campuses while they continue to enjoin their salaries.

"POTAG, as teachers of our youth, have a moral duty to show by example a willingness to use laid down procedures for redress of their grievances," it added. Members of POTAG vowed to continue their strike action in demand for improved service conditions despite the government's decision to freeze their salaries. Mr Emmanuel Agyemang, local branch chairman of the association at the Accra Polytechnic, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency, said the government's decision not to pay their salaries would worsen the already volatile situation. He said the issue at stake does not merit parties adopting entrenched positions, adding that the lecturers are prepared to go the extra mile to achieve their demands. Mr Agyemang said the polytechnics are on the verge of collapse because service conditions are not good enough to attract qualified personnel to take up teaching appointments.

Meanwhile, due to the decision by the Lecturers to call off the strike, the government has announced that the Lecturers will be paid their salaries for September.