Authorities at the University of Ghana (UG) have indicated they will not close down because of the continuing strikes by lecturers and senior staff members. The university teachers have been on strike for 21 days to protest the non-payment of their book and research allowance by government while the senior staff are also demanding better conditions of service. There have been media reports suggesting the universities may be forced to close down if the strikes are not called-off after 21 days which is today, Wednesday August 28. The university statutes stipulate the universities must be closed down if academic work stalls for 21 days. But Public Relations Officer at the University of Ghana Stella Amoah in an interview with JOYNEWS' Beatrice Adu said that assertion is false. She noted that closure of the University of Ghana is determined by management and that there is no law in their statute that stipulates that after 21 days of strike, the school must close down. Stella Amoah disclosed that the Legon branch of University Teachers Association (UTAG) is in a crunch meeting to decide whether or not to call off the strike. Meanwhile the university teachers say their strike is ongoing despite several appeals by the Education Ministry for them to return to work for negotiations on their grievances to begin. President of UTAG, Dr. Anthony Simmons tells JOYNEWS heads of the various universities will meet to discuss outcome of a meeting held with Vice chancellors on Monday, after which a decision will be taken on the strike.