July 30, 2017
President Nana Akufo-Addo has asked the all the factions in the impasse at the University of Education Winneba (UEW) to tame their egos so as to find an amicable solution to the crisis resulting from a court action against the university.
He also urged the university’s Governing Council to, as a matter of urgency, amicably resolve all grievances for which a private citizen dragged the school to court.
According to the President, it is in the interest of peace that the school’s authorities and the various factions need to tame their egos and let sobriety prevail.
President Akufo-Addo, who gave the advice at the university’s congregation on Saturday, said the standoff at the university needs to be resolved
A former Assemblyman of Donkoryiem, Supi Kofi Kwayera sued the university at the Winneba High Court against continuous stay of the school’s Council in office.
The Council’s mandatory four-year term expired in 2013, but the previous government directed it to act until a substantive one was appointed.
The then Education Minister, Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang in her justification cited the protracted election petition in 2013 and some challenges facing the education sector for the central government’s decision.
But Mr Kwayera, in May sued the University and the Education Ministry for what he said was the unlawful extension of the school’s Governing Council’s tenure.
He also accused the Governing Council of misappropriating the funds of the University after the expiration of two tenures in 2013.
At a hearing at Winneba, the presiding judge, Justice Ato Graves Mills granted an injunction request by the former Assemblyman for the closure of the school.
He also asked for the current Vice Chancellor of the school and other senior members to be restrained from exercising their duties.
The University was subsequently closed down in what lawyers for the plaintiff said was a clear case of bad faith.
The university’s chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is also divided over the matter, leading to a failed strike action called by their leaders.
President Akufo-Addo, at the event, said the challenges facing the University can be surmounted if “all stakeholders act within the confines of the law.”
He noted that although “court decisions are not always pleasant, they are in principle the surest way of resolving disputes.”
He urged all the parties to refrain from acts and utterances that may undermine the authority of the courts.
In addition, the President charged the Chairperson of the newly constituted governing council of the university to take practical steps to seal all revenue leakages and wastages of public funds.
“I encourage all the lecturers to resume full academic duties and use the university’s processes to resolve any outstanding grievances,” he stated.
By ADR Daily Newsdesk
