The Central Management Board has approved a 21.5 per cent increase in salaries of lecturers and other categories of staff of universities and polytechnics, following the increase in the minimum wage.

Despite the increase, Polytechnic lecturers, who are on strike, have refused to resume work.

Members of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) embarked on an industrial action about two weeks ago over the government's failure to review their salaries, after two increases in the minimum wage.

Mr. Gyan Takyi of Sunyani Polytechnic branch of POTAG told the Ghana News Agency that the 21.5 per cent increment contained in a letter dated July 19, 2001, fell far below what was due them.

"Besides the fact that the figure is below the 31 percentage increase in the rise of the minimum wage from ?4,200 to ?5,500, it did not take into account the first increase in the minimum wage from ?2,900 to ?4,200 approved last November."

Mr. Takyi said a national executive meeting has been scheduled for Kumasi next Thursday and until otherwise decided at the meeting, the strike would continue.

"We are tired of always being treated as second rate to our counterparts in the universities and even at the Ghana Education Service, and we are determined to fight for what is due us."

Mr. Mawutor Anyigba, Secretary of the local branch of POTAG, said polytechnic lecturers have suffered too much marginalisation.

He said their conditions of service state clearly that any increase in the minimum wage would automatically reflect in their salaries.

"The government has committed itself to a policy of positive change, and all that we are calling for is that this charge should reflect in our conditions of service, so that we will be put on the proper scale as enjoyed by our counterparts elsewhere."

Meanwhile, most of the 3,000 students of the polytechnic have left campus for home, following the strike action.