Processes to approve Public University Bill halted – UTAG

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has disclosed that all considerations regarding the passage of the disputed Public University Bill (PUB) have been halted indefinitely.

According to the Committee, this move is a resultant development following a meeting with the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and other ranking members of Parliament,.

They expressed disappointment over the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education’s (PSCE) decision to re-lay the Bill to Parliament Tuesday without approval.

In a press release dated Wednesday, December 16, the Committee noted that Dr. Bawumia has acknowledged the Speaker of Parliament’s directive for the PSCE to undertake extensive stakeholder consultations before further action is effected.

“At the meeting, the Vice President, on behalf of Government, upheld the directive of the Speaker of Parliament that the Parliamentary Select Committee of Education (PSCE) should carry out thorough stakeholder engagements and report back to Parliament.

“Therefore, all process leading to the passage of the PUB has been halted for now and that the Parliamentary Press Corp will release a statement by the close of today.” it reads.

Ranking Member for Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Notsu had earlier observed that the meeting was to allow various stakeholders propose possible amendments to the bill.

Pursuant to his statement, the NEC of UTAG submits it has at its disposal an amended version of the PUB, and hence enjoins its members to keep cool heads.

“Meanwhile, UTAG has been given a copy of the revised version of the PUB for our study and consultation with our members. NEC, therefore, calls on all members of UTAG to remain calm as the consultations go on and will like to assure them that anything contrary to this agreement will incur the displeasure of UTAG,”.

The statement was signed by the National President of UTAG, Professor Charles Marfo and the Association’s National Secretary, Dr. Eric Abavare.