Dr Samuel Ofori Bekoe, National President of University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) on Wednesday said the Association would not be a “pushover” in the “fight” for book and research allowance for its members.

He said members of the Association are professionals who are committed to their work and know the tools needed for the job and would not “allow people who do not know anything about tertiary education to dictate to them”.

Dr Bekoe said this when he inaugurated the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) branch of the association in Ho.

He said the book and research allowance were part of the condition of service of members of the association and government has no right to unilaterally take away the allowances, saying, it was against international labour laws.

Dr Bekoe said “government must listen to us because anything short of this will not auger well for all of us and if government cannot do it, it must move out for the one who can do it.”

He said though the Association is not against the proposed national research fund, the absence of a policy document on it could affect its successful implementation.

He said book and research allowances could not be replaced with the policy.

Dr Bekoe asked the new executives of UHAS to unite to develop the Association develop as professional union.

Professor Edwin K. Wiredu, Pro Vice Chancellor, UHAS commended UTAG for fighting for the good of its members.

UHAS UTAG is under the Presidency of Dr Francis Zotor, Head of the Department of Public Health, UHAS.

The rest of the executives are Peter Adatara, Vice-President, Reuben Ayivor-Djanie, Secretary and Ms Eunice Berko, Treasurer.