The Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) on Monday declared its intention to hit the street, if the government fails to implement sustainable solutions to tackle the growing illegal mining menace in the country.
Prof. Uriah S. Tetteh, the President of TUTAG who gave the intention of the association, however congratulated President John Dramani Mahama and the Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang for the electoral victory in the 2024 General Election.
He expressed regret that illegal mining continued to wreak havoc on the environment and communities, citing the recent shooting incident involving suspected illegal miners and the military at the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine as “a grim reminder of the urgency of the menace”.
“The time has come for decisive action to protect our natural resources and ensure that mining is conducted in a way that benefits the nation as a whole,” Prof. Tetteh stated at the opening session of the 49th delegates congress of the TUTAG, underway in Sunyani.
Prof. Tetteh said, “Failure to address the menace will have devastating consequences for our environment and people”.
The two-day congress, being attended by Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities and other tutors is on the theme “Technical University governance: Strengthening partnerships for institutional growth”.
Prof. Tetteh also touched on the condition of service of the association and urged organised labour to immediately initiate negotiations on the basic salary of members, with a new finance minister in office.
“Fair and timely remuneration is central to maintaining the morale and productivity of our workforce and let us act with urgency and ensure that our members receive their due without delay,” he stated.
Prof. Tetteh stressed TUTAG’s commitment to create an environment where TU teachers and administrators could thrive, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to accelerated national development.
“Our TUs are more than educational institutions as they serve as hubs of innovation and excellence,” he stated, saying “through our effort and effective governance, we will continue to strengthen partnerships that drive institutional growth and national progress”.
The Reverend Prof. John Frank Eshun, the Chair of Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G), indicated that the success of TUs lay in their abilities to build and sustain meaningful collaborations with stakeholders.
—GNA
