General News of Wednesday, 27 March 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

UEW Impasse: UTAG calls for the resignation of vice chancellor, Prof Abakah

Dr Eric Opoku Mensah play videoDr Eric Opoku Mensah

The University of Teachers Association of Ghana has called for the resignation of the vice chancellor of the University of Education- Winneba, Professor. Afful-Broni over what they claim is his vindictive attitude and failure to reconcile factions in the crisis he created and benefitted from.

The association is also demanding for the immediate resignation of the chair of the governing council, Prof Abakah for failure to provide guidance and proper counsel to the entire Governing Council and Management of UEW.

“It is the position of UTAG that both the Council Chair and the Vice-Chancellor must honourably resign their positions with immediate effect.”


Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, to set the record straight, Dr Eric Opoku Mensah called on president Akufo-Addo and CHRAJ to investigate and determine the crux of the issues including what appears to be a conflict of interest situation the Governing Council Chair finds himself in.

“We are by this release calling on president of the republic to initiate a full scale investigation into the conduct of Prof. Emmanuel Abakah on ,the UEW council and to bring to book if found complicit. We equally call on CHRAJ to investigate the conflict of interest situation Prof. Abakah finds himself in.”

The national executive committee of the University of Teachers Association of Ghana also called for the reinstatement of all staff that may have been dismissed, suspended or demoted under the UEW management and council.

“UTAG notes with concern the growing sectarian nonacademic culture and the rise of a dragon at UEW… the situation is so bad that there is now a culture of silence on UEW campuses… the few who are bold to talk are the ones being dismissed under the guise of a so called due process. We therefore call for the reinstatement of all affected staff and not only UTAG members.”

This call by UTAG follows the numerous happenings on the school's campus and the unfortunate disagreement among governing council members which has led to the suspension and dismissal of staff.

The UTAG however questions the promotion of the Council Chair upon assumption of office, stating that the council chair has exhibited gross corruption, conflict of interest, wanton dissipation of public funds and bending of rules to suit himself.

“Prof Abakah used his position as Chairman of UEW Governing Council to engineer a retroactive application of a statutory provision, which did not apply to him when he was inactive service, to gain promotion under a previous administration…This is a clear indication that UEW Management and the council, chaired by Prof Abakah are, ignorant of exiting statutory regulations governing public universities in Ghana.”

In addition UTAG is therefore stated that as a matter of urgency a neutral person should be brought in to lead the management of University of Education Winneba (UEW).