The newly-elected national executive members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have been sworn into office to run the affairs of the association for the next two years. The new executive members were sworn in by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, at the Main Auditorium. The Association has Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah as its new president. Other executive members are Dr. Eunice Fay Amissah (Vice-President), Dr. Bert Boadi-Kusi (Secretary) and Dr. Kojo Okyere (Treasurer). In his remarks, Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah, said UTAG would continue to scrutinise any major government decision or policy, since successive governments and the general public sometimes question members of the relevance of their research works to the socio- economic development of the country. Dr. Mensah, however, conceded that some of their research work remained on shelves. To nip this unfortunate development in the bud, Dr Mensah assured the public that " National UTAG under my administration will work hard to create an Annual Research and Technology Fair to bring our research findings closer to industry players and Ghanaians in general." This,according to him, would be the surest way of helping to drive innovations and homegrown technology to propel national development. He said UTAG would work in partnership with all the major stakeholders in education to create a conducive research, teaching and learning environment in Ghanaian universities. Dr. Mensah mentioned review of conditions of service, rigorous contribution to national policy and discourse and, the establishment of UTAG research and Technology Fund as some of the policies his administration would vigorously pursue. He pledged to serve the interest of UTAG and called for a united front amongst members,assuring that he would consult members always in order to build solid consensus to advance the cause of the association. For his part, the immediate past president of UTAG, Dr. Harry Agbenu, thanked members for their support during his tenure and called for similar support to the new executives so that they would live up to expectation. He thanked the government for maintaining the Book and Research Allowance. Dr. Agbenu called on all stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel to resolve the impasse at the University of Education. The ceremony was graced by the Minister-in-charge of Tertiary Education, Prof Kwesi Yankah.
