Court slaps UTAG with GHC 3,000 cost for basic errors

The Labour Court in Accra has slapped University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) with GHC 3,000 for failing to attach the necessary mandatory documents in respect of the motion filed.

UTAG filed a motion in court to challenge National Labour Commission’s secured injunction to compel UTAG to call off their full-blown strike declared since August 2, 2021.

The court presided over by Justice Frank Rockson Aboadwe awarded the cost of 3,000 cedis against UTAG for committing fundamental errors because the striking union failed to attach basic particulars.

This was after Counsel for UTAG failed to comply with Section 20(14) of the rules that guides their motion before the court.

In related development, General Secretary of University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) University of Ghana Chapter Prof. Ransford Gyampo has taken government and National Labour Commission to the cleanest, accusing them of dragging their feet when it comes to implementing signed negotiations.

According to him, the NLC must be scraped because it has outlived its usefulness.

His comment follows a strong held view of the the National President of UTAG Prof. Charles Marfo that the NLC in cahoots with government on labour matters.

Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors in Accra, the University of Ghana Political Science Professor Ransford Gyampo said “UTAG members don’t eat meetings and negotiations, we’ve been negotiating since 2012″.

Prof. Gyampo has also thrown an open invitation to the NLC to quickly round up the striking lecturers in the 16 universities in Ghana to prison as promised if jail term will addrrss UTAG’s grievances after the NLC threatened to file contempt of court charges against UTAG members for refusing to comply with injunction.

Prof. Gyampo noted that ” Politicians are telling us to tighten our belts whiles they’re loosening theirs and eating”.

Meanwhile, University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is also insisting that they will not meet the National Labour Commission to table over their grievances until the legal tussle in court is completely settled.

UTAG refused to return to the classroom despite NLC court order to compel the striking lecturers to resume work.

UTAG has since filed a motion in court to challenge the NLC court injunction to compel them to suspend their nationwide strike with the NLC threatening to run back to court to press contempt of court charges against UTAG for refusing to comply with the restraining order.

But, according University of Ghana Chapter of UTAG, Dr. Samuel Ekoban , UTAG has already taken steps to to set aside the court injunction.

Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors in Accra on Wednesday 11 August 2021, “Dr. Samuel Ekuban said ” Only court can decide the future of our strike whether it will be called-off or not. We’re even ready to challenge the contempt charges the NLC is seeking to file against UTAG. We’ll not meet the NLC until the court determines the matter “.

He noted that “What will convince us to go to back to the classroom is when the government show good fate by resolving our concerns”.

Source : africaneditors.com