Students at public universities across the country would have to wait and hope that their lecturers change their mind on their prolonged strike and return to lecture halls shortly. The National Executive Committee of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at meeting on Tuesday resolved to continue with their over two weeks old strike. The decision is in defiance to an appeal by President John Mills for them to return to work whilst a committee he set up on Friday investigates their concerns and make appropriate recommendation. The entrenched position by UTAG overrides earlier decisions by the University of Ghana as well as the Ghana Institute of Journalism branches of the association to suspend their strike. National President of UTAG, Dr Samuel Asiedu Addo told Joy News their entrenched position is as a result of comments made by government spokespersons. According to him, a youth leader of the NDC in the Northern Region had threatened to bring other lecturers to teach if the UTAG members were not ready to return. “If they say they can have fine people to teach, let them come and teach,” he said. The Head of government's Policy Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Tony Aidoo early this week questioned why some allowances of the university lecturers are not taxed, describing their action as illegal. This also appears to have infuriated the UTAG members and have resolved to remain at home until the government addresses their grievances. Dr. Addo said the government must tackle the substantive issues and refrain from describing the striking lecturers as insensitive. Meanwhile, the seven-man committee set up by President Mills has concluded its deliberations and on Wednesday presented its report. Contents are however yet to be made public, while President Mills expressed his gratitude to the members and said the government will study the recommendations for implementation. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview with Dr Addo. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana