A fellow at CDD-Ghana and Pharmacist, Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, has rejected claims that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is orchestrating the ongoing industrial strike by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
Dr Asiedu Sarpong in an interview with Millicent Safo-Adu explained his position that “I was once a lecturer at KNUST. Whenever we voted at the university, everyone knew the NPP would win by a large margin. So if such people participate in an industrial action with four out of five in favour, nobody can convince me that the NDC is behind this strike”.
He emphasized the independence of academia, noting that many lecturers, despite their potential support for Dr. Bawumia, voted for the strike due to concerns over illegal mining.
He said “One thing I know about my colleagues in academia is that they are very independent-minded”
“Many of those voted for the industrial action will likely vote for Dr Bawumia, but their decisions was based on their stance on illegal mining”, he stressed.
Dr. Sarpong described the Kumasi Technical University lecturers who formed Concerned Members of Organized Labour and expressed skepticism about the strike as noise makers.
“After the Kumasi Technical University ballot, those who were making noise were in the minority. They are noise makers” he stated.
He argued that the voting results of TUTAG demonstrate that the National Democratic Congress had no hand in the strike
“If lecturers at Kumasi Amakom(Kumasi Technical University) voted in favor of an industrial strike, it tells me that these individuals are independent-minded and making decisions based on what they believe is wrong”.
Dr. Sarpong criticized the government’s response to illegal mining, stating that recent military operations lack seriousness and effectiveness.
“Although I don’t understand how the military operates, I do listen to insights from officers like Colonel Francis Aboagye, a military consultant. According to him, the company of soldiers assigned to that operation numbers fewer than 100”
“This shows how unserious they are. As for me, I think they are just doing something to show they are serious, which they’re not”.
Dr. Asiedu Sarpong dismissed a communication from the Presidency as meaningless, asserting that true change in mining practices remains uncertain.
“Eugune Arhin’s letter held no significance, even before Organized Labour’s strike decision. We all knew the letter was meaningless. I believe time will reveal whether galamsey in our forests will truly cease. The Colonel’s words suggest our current approach is unsustainable”
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Ghana /Kwadwo Owusu
