The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is appealing to labour unions to measure their expectations of the Akufo-Addo-led administration due to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the world economy.
University teachers declared a strike, early this year, to pile pressure on the government, to demand better conditions of service.
The nearly 30-day-old strike was however suspended following talks between the government and leadership of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG).
Speaking at a special congregation ceremony at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, the Asantehene said the recent labour unrest has impacted greatly on the country’s educational system.
“I urge the government to continue to ensure that equity is manifestly done and the citizenry fully assured and satisfied, in the same breath , I call on UTAG and all other unions on campus and civil society at large to be measured in their expectations.
“Particularly at this time that the global economy is battling the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, some are saying we shouldn’t blame the Russia- Ukraine war , but it is also part of it anyway.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has already created a dent in the academic calendar and we dont want labour unrest deepening this dent,” he said.
The Asantehene also urged the government to resort to dialogue to reduce the spate of labour unrest.
“Iam not a student of economics but I know the resources are always limited and that we cannot have what we want all the time, I hope and pray that dialogue, goodwill and trust which are essential ingredient’s in conflict will be applied effectively in all future negotiations to avoid prolong strikes in the future,” Otumfuo said.
