General News of Thursday, 24 March 2005

Source: GNA

Minority calls for prompt action against Legon examination cheats

Accra, March 24, GNA - The Minority in Parliament on Thursday called for prompt action against examination cheats at the University of Ghana, a scandal which has attracted a huge attention following a report that confirmed cases of examination malpractice at the country's premier university.

"Once the Mfodwo Committee Report is out, what the public expects is prompt action in dealing with the offenders," a statement signed by Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, said.

"The Minority Group in Parliament calls upon the Minister of Education and Sports to ensure that offenders are punished without delay to restore the good image of the University."

The Minority also said it endorsed the call of a section of students of the University for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor, since as Chief Executive Officer of the University, "he bears responsibility for the scandalous examination irregularities that have occurred".

The Mfodwo Report has identified a son of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere as a key culprit in the leakage of examination questions and massaging of grades.

The Minority said it was drawing attention of the Government to the fact that the general public viewed with concern the effects of the malpractices on the image of the University, the integrity of Ghanaians in high positions and credibility of the University's degrees.

"What is most shocking and disheartening is the extent of leakages in the recent examination in the University and the alleged involvement of top-ranking staff of the University in changing grades without justification."

The Minority said the statutes of the University of Ghana were clear on sanctions for both Senior and Junior Members of the University and these should be applied.

The Vice Chancellor has promised that he would apply sanctions against anybody whom the Committee finds culpable and this includes his son.