Dr. Matthew Chiwaridzo was expected to take up a senior lecturer post at the renowned university’s Department of Physiotherapy and Sport Sciences but he said in a letter to the authorities that it is simply not worth the trouble.
He stated in the letter that the annual salary of Ghc55, 104.05 (USD 760.00 per month) is not comparable to a monthly basic salary of a Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe (ZWL 1, 293, 708.00 per annum: USD 1.283 per month).
“Please note that I am currently in the Senior Lecturer grade (ZWL 1, 561 248.00 per annum; USD 1.500 per month) at the University of Zimbabwe by virtue of having a doctorate degree specialising in Physiotherapy, 35 publications, 2 awarded grant projects and 7 years of satisfactory teaching, industrialisation, innovation and research experience. It is for this economical reason alone that I decline the offer of employment at KNUST and will want to explore other opportunities.”
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Dr. Matthew Chiwaridzo’s rejection of the job offer only underscores the cry by the University Teachers Association of Ghana that the condition f service f its members is nothing t write home about.
The association just called off a two-week strike last week over poor conditions of service and the failure of the government to resolve long-standing grievances.
According to a 2012 condition of service which the government has failed to implement, the Basic plus Market Premium of a lecturer must be at $2,084.42 instead of the current $997.84.
Reports say the entry-level salary of a lecturer is less than Ghs2000 while a professor earns less than Ghs5000 monthly.