New calendar for UEW

The management of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) is proposing a revised academic calendar that will help affected students on both the Winneba and Ajumako campuses to catch up with school work after a temporary shutdown.

The proposal comes in the wake of continuous agitation by the students against the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, and their demand for the reinstatement of some 30 staff including 23 lecturers who were sacked.

The students’ action led to an indefinite shutdown of the school.

The PRO of UEW, Mr Ernest Azutiga, said the management is considering a number of measures to ensure that the students do not lose out.

“Looking at the situation that is at hand at the moment, what has been proposed is somewhat of a revised calendar that should help the people in Winneba and Ajumako to make up for the lost time,” he told Class 91.3FM.

In a related development, the National Executive Committee of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has invited the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Special Prosecutor, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Ministry of Education to investigate certain allegations made against the Vice-Chancellor.

The union, at a press conference, also promised to work to end the victimisation of lecturers and staff of the university by Rev Father Prof Anthony Afful-Broni, who, the union claims, has sacked several lecturers since assuming office last year.

A UTAG press statement issued on Tuesday, 26 March 2019 and signed by Dr Eric Opoku Mensah, national president, said: “The National Executive Committee of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) will monitor the situation for a while with the view of finding a lasting solution and an end to the victimisation of lecturers and other staff. If we see no end in sight UTAG will advise itself.”

At the press conference, UTAG, once again, demanded the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and the reinstatement of all the lecturers he has victimised through dismissals.

The V-C recently dismissed three senior lecturers including the UEW UTAG chapter president Dr Frimpong Kaakyire Duku, Professor Ephraim Avea Nsoh and Prof Sarpong.

Students of the school went on a spontaneous demonstration after news of the dismissals spread.

Dr Eric Opoku Mensah told journalists on Tuesday that “the victimisation and polarisation on UEW campus” are at variance with President Nana Akufo-Addo’s call on the V-C during his installation last year, to “reconcile all factions regarding the impasse which existed before his investiture”.

“As of now, over 30 people have been sacked, suspended or demoted arbitrarily”, Dr Opoku Mensah said.

“Having failed his assigned task, it is the considered position that Prof Afful-Broni should resign honourably to save UEW from further chaos. UTAG is demanding an unconditional reinstatement of all staff who have been dismissed, demoted or suspended”.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com