POTAG gives govt ultimatum over book allowance

The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) has given the government up to April 22, 2014 to pay the book and research allowance (BRA) of members or hold itself accountable for any consequences.

According to the association, it was ready to divulge all the arsenal at its disposal to fight and defend this legitimate allowance.

Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi yesterday, the National President of POTAG, Mr James Dugrah, said the ultimatum followed the government’s refusal to respond to the various correspondence forwarded to it for the issues to be resolved.

He said although POTAG was not against the introduction of the National Research and Innovation Fund, that fund could not replace the BRA, which was part of POTAG’s collective bargaining agreement.

Mr Dugrah described the government’s proclamation that it was establishing the National Research and Innovation Fund to replace the BRA as very unfortunate and, in fact, a misnomer.

“The BRA is part of the basic working tools for the polytechnic teacher which is not just given to POTAG members out of generosity or because the government has so much money to spare but is born out of necessity and countless negotiations between POTAG and the government,” he stated.

Mr Dugrah argued that the BRA was negotiated for and agreed upon by both parties and, therefore, no single party could unilaterally take it off.