The Coalition of Concerned University Students (CoCUS) has declared to stage a protest against government over the ongoing strike by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).

Conveners of the group said, “government’s inability to bring a harmonised resolution to the matter” and the negative impact of the industrial action on the academic calendar are the reasons for their demonstration.

“A petition will be submitted to the Presidency, Jubilee House and Parliament for the urgent consideration of the government and subsequent execution,” the group announced in a statement dated January 30, 2022.

The date and other details of the intended demonstration will be communicated soon, CoCUS added.

“We in CoCUS believe that student activism has been pivotal in Ghana’s political and democratic history.”

“Given that Ghana’s democratisation process since 1992 has not been static, some remarkable strides have been made in improving the nation’s democratic quality through student activism.”

The shutdown of public universities may still not be off the table as the lecturers’ strike enters its fourth week.

The lecturers are pushing for better conditions, demanding entry-level salaries of more than ¢1200.

NLC sues UTAG

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has sued UTAG for failing to comply with the directive to call off its strike. The case is expected to be heard on February 3.

Despite the NLC declaring the strike as illegal, UTAG resolved to carry on, enabling the Commission to seek legal redress in court.

The NLC, among other things, is praying the court forces UTAG to call off its strike as declared by the Commission on January 13, 2022.

UTAG has vowed that it will not call off the industrial action until its demands for improved conditions are met.