New UTAG Executives for GIJ

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday July 6, 2010
THE UNIVERSITY Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has formed its Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) branch with a call on all members to “combine forces to ensure better conditions of service for lecturers.”

The six member executive with Collins Adu-Bempah Brobbey, a political science and communication research methods lecturer as its president was inaugurated at ceremony in Accra on Thursday.

Admitting UTAG-GIJ at an inauguration ceremony in Accra on Thursday, Dr. Samuel Kwesi Asiedu-Addo, National President of UTAG said the association had fulfilled its constitutional mandate in Article V Section 3 of its constitution which states: “any public tertiary institution raised to the level of a university by an Act of Parliament shall be granted membership upon application or request.”

He said the GIJ had demonstrated that its ability in teaching and research and needed to be supported to grow.

Dr. Asiedu-Addo said in an attempt to bring UTAG to the doorstep of every member, a platform had been created to give members the opportunity to contribute to the development of the association towards nation building.

He said UTAG had developed a website to link all universities saying “a forum is created where members can send information in the form of contributions, advice and concerns to the national secretariat.”

“At UTAG, we dispassionately debate issues affecting our members. The good thing is that we speak with a common voice after a decision has been taken by the committee and each member branch stands by that decision.”

He said being part of UTAG opens “new opportunities and connections for research and extension work that may not only benefit individual members but also the institution in general.”

Dr. Asiedu-Addo noted that UTAG now presents “a powerful front in pursuing better conditions of service for its members” adding “we will not relent in our efforts to promote common action among university teachers and help improve channels of communication and relation among different sections of the university.”

Mr. Brobbey said the institute is pursuing the implementation of its strategic to position it to “play the role expected of it as an academic and professional institution.”

“With the improvement in staff strength and in spite of the difficulties encountered, the institute was able make some strides especially in the area of student enrolment,” he noted.

Other executive members of UTAG-GIJ branch include Modestus Fosu (Vice), Kwadwo Ansong Boateng (Secretary), Mavis Essandoh (Treasurer), Rhodalene Amartey, Vice (Treasurer) and Kobina Bedu-Addo as Organising Secretary.