Uncategorized – Senior Staff Association, UCC

UCC and DTU Embark on Joint Project

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) through the Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) is collaborating with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) to embark on a joint project aimed at generating knowledge to support research-based management of marine and coastal resources; and the environment.

The project dubbed “HOTSPOT” is aimed at strengthening research capacity in Ghana and Denmark through the integration of two research cultures that would provide ideal setting for scientific innovation using current scientific knowledge to address maritime sustainability challenges.

A group photograph of the project partners and participants of the workshop

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HOTSPOT is being funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark through the Denmark Development Cooperation (DANIDA) with a grant of DDK 5 million which is equivalent to US $ 800,000 for a period of three years thus, 2018-2020. Project implementers include DTU Aqua, UCC-CCM, COWI, LITEHAUZ and Zeal Environmental Technologies.

HOTSPOT will contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 14 with a focus on increasing scientific knowledge; developing research capacity and transfer of knowledge about life below water. It is also a priority of the Danish and Ghana governments’ development strategy in Developing and Transition countries.

During the implementation of the project, academic expertise of the two universities and environmental expertise of two Danish consultancy companies, COWI and LITEHAUZ, as well as Ghanaian company, ZEAL Environmental Technologies Limited would be deployed to achieve the objectives of HOTSPOT. Through HOTSPOT, there would be opportunities for student exchanges, in the form of courses, post-graduate training and research projects. In achieving the objectives of HOTSPOT, the partners would work in close collaboration with stakeholders, such as the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency and Ghana Maritime Authority. The lead research for HOTSPOT is Prof. Gissen Nielsen Torkel of DTU.

It is a fact that the Gulf of Guinea is exposed to multiple stressors, such as discharges from ship traffic, chemicals and heavy metals from mining and oil exploration, and wastes from land. Previous research has shown how these factors individually influence the marine life.

However, not much is known about how marine organisms react when these factors act together as multiple stressors. HOTSPOT will investigate these problems by conducting small and large-scale laboratory experiments, combined with modelling.

The first step is to determine the types, concentrations and sources of stressors and their main sources. Through HOTSPOT project, the partners and stakeholders are determined to help manage these stressers on marine and coastal resources and environment.

Moratorium on salary increment is untenable and will worsen the welfare of the Ghanaian worker- General Secretary of FUSSAG

The Federation of Universities Senior Staff of Ghana (FUSSAG) has described the proposed moratorium on the salary increment in the year 2014 as untenable in view of adverse economic conditions that have eroded the value of wages and salaries of the Ghanaian worker. This was contained in a statement to the press issued on Monday, 14th April, 2014 and signed by the General Secretary, Mr. Jacob Emmanuel Eshun.

The statement reminded the government that any agreement to adjust wages and salaries is informed largely by cost of living. The statement admitted that, productivity is one of the factors that influence wage determination; there is no evidence to suggest that productivity in the public sector has worsened. According to the Mr. Eshun, the proposal to freeze salary adjustment is reprehensible to the extent that it will worsen the welfare of the citizenry.

“The Federation of Universities Senior Staff Associations of Ghana will resist any attempt to freeze salary increment. Such a decision will be arbitrary and not in the interest of our hardworking members who make considerable sacrifices in the course of duty. The low salary levels of University staff still remains unaddressed, hence any attempt at freezing increment will cause more harm than good”, the statement concluded.

Full statement

The Federation of Universities Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG) of Trades Union Congress is dismayed by the intention of the government to freeze salary increment in the year 2014. The decision to freeze salaries increase is untenable in view of the adverse economic conditions that have eroded the value of wages and salaries of the Ghanaian worker. It is our considerable opinion that any attempt to freeze salary and wage increment will worsen, rather than advance the welfare of Ghanaian worker.

We wish to remind the government that any agreement to adjust wages and salaries is informed largely by cost of living to compensate for the resultant erosion of the value of wages and salaries. Albeit, productivity is one of the factors that influence wage determination, there is no evidence to suggest that productivity in the public sector has worsened. The use of the budget deficit to justify the freeze in wages and salaries cannot be accepted.

We wish to draw the attention of the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to the basic fact that ultimate aim of any economic decision or policy is to improve the welfare of the citizenry. Any policy that obviously worsens the welfare of the Ghanaian worker is therefore reprehensible. We wish to posit that any freeze on salary increment in 2014 will not be the panacea to the current economic challenge, but will rather create more problems for the country. The intention must be stayed to allow the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiation Committee (PSJSNC) negotiates the 2014 minimum wage and base pay.

The Federation of Universities Senior Staff Associations of Ghana will resist any attempt to freeze salary increment. Such a decision will be arbitrary and not in the interest of our hardworking members who make considerable sacrifices in the course of duty. The low salary levels of University staff still remains unaddressed, hence any attempt at freezing increment will cause more harm than good.

Mediation process on market premium for senior staff of public universities starts

The mediation process on payment of market premium to senior staff of public universities in Ghana started on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014 in Accra. This follows a directive issued by the National Labour Commission (NLC) on 18th December, 2013 after a facilitation process. The mediation process started in spite of the expiration of the 28thFebruary, 2014 deadline given by the Commission.

Representatives of parties to the mediation process namely, the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) were present. The Chairman of the Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG), Prof. Ernest Aryeetey and the Executive Secretary of VCG, Mr. Peter Kaba were also present.

The mediator introduced the grievance and sought initial clarifications from the parties. The mediator asked parties to exchange the necessary documents and accordingly adjourned hearing to Tuesday, 18th March, 2014.

The mediator indicated that the three hearings will be adequate for the process after which parties may opt for voluntary arbitration if the grievance remains unresolved.