By Prince Ahenkorah
The Educate Africa Institute (EAI) has expressed dissatisfaction with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) strike, indicating that the move by UTAG to disrupt students’ education, is not the way to address galamsey.
The EAI, in a release signed by William Boadi, the Executive Director of the Educate Africa Institute, acknowledged the effects of galamsey on the people but indicated that “addressing illegal mining should be the responsibility of environmental agencies, lawmakers, and law enforcement, not the educational sector.”
He further stated, “if Ghana’s primary labor unions, with their greater influence, have refrained from striking over galamsey, it raises the question of why UTAG should take this drastic measure. Many Ghanaians recognize that addressing galamsey involves challenging deeply rooted interests, making a direct resolution unlikely.”
The EAI asserted that the strike by UTAG affects the students more than the government, indicating that “while the Educate Africa Institute (EAI) acknowledges the importance of environmental conservation, we believe that this strike is misplaced and ultimately disruptive to students who have paid their academic and hostel fees, yet now find themselves out of the classroom. The financial and emotional burdens on students are significant, and they deserve the uninterrupted education they have invested in.”
The Institute urged UTAG to channel their influence toward pressing student issues such as inadequate campus accommodation and outdated curricula.
“The lack of affordable and safe student housing is a growing problem, and UTAG could be a powerful advocate for campus infrastructure improvements”.
“Additionally, updating curricula to meet the demands of today’s job market would directly benefit students, better preparing them for post-graduate success. Advocacy efforts focused on these areas are more aligned with UTAG’s mission and can lead to immediate, tangible improvements for both educators and students,” EAI affirmed.
The EAI, therefore, calls on UTAG to reconsider the ongoing strike and refocus on impactful actions within the educational sector.
While, galamsey is indeed a critical issue, the disruption of students’ education is not the way to address it.
They indicated that UTAG has the potential to drive meaningful change for students and faculty by prioritizing advocacy on issues that directly impact Ghana’s educational system.
