Some students and alumni of the University of Education, Winneba are still demanding the resignation of the school’s Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, despite welcoming mediation efforts to return peace to the school.
Students were protesting the UEW Vice Chancellor’s dismissal of some lecturers, which eventually led to the school being shut down indefinitely because the students protested the dismissals.
Since then, Prof. Afful-Broni, the school’s board chair, Prof. Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah and other stakeholders have agreed to work towards addressing the current challenges at the school and possibly reinstating the lectures.
The Ministry of Education said the differences of the stakeholders were addressed at the meeting “with an agreement to collaborate in addressing issues that affect stakeholders directly and indirectly.”
But the students and alumni in a statement said reinstating the lectures will not resolve the tensions.
“In light of that, The Concerned Students and Alumni want to reiterate the fact that reinstating the wrongfully dismissed staff of the University is not the total solution to the epic chaos that has engulfed the University.”
“To ensure total peace, we categorically state that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni either resigns or is sacked from the University.”
The dismissed lecturers included local University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) president, Dr. Frimpong Kakyire Duku and the Principal of the Colleges of Languages at UEW, Prof. Ephraim Avea Nsoh.
A senior lecturer popular with the students, Dr. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, also had his appointment terminated.
The students’ protests were backed by UTAG, which called the sackings baseless.
Since then, Prof. Afful-Broni, the school’s board chair, Prof. Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah and other stakeholders have agreed to work towards addressing the current challenges at the school.
Find below the full statement
FROM THE CONCERNED STUDENTS AND ALUMNI OF UEW
SUBJECT: POSTPONEMENT OF THE PEACEFUL PROTEST WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR 18TH MARCH, 2018
The Concerned Students and Alumni of UEW wish to express our profound gratitude to our dear Honourables; Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong for their timely and invaluable intervention which helped restore calm to the campuses which were affected by the massive demonstrations in the University of Education, Winneba.
We wish to emphatically state that it was never the intention of the students to cause damage to any of the school’s property.
It is an open secret that the demonstration had gone on peacefully for three days wherein no property was damaged.
However, on Thursday, the 14th of March 2018, in order to carry out a so called “order from above”, The Police, without any provocation fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the students.
This was done with the aim of dispersing the protesting students to make it seem as if there was extreme calm on campus and that there were no massive protests by students in the University of Education, Winneba as purported by the Ag. SRC President of the School.
The blatant display of violence and unprofessionalism by the Police backfired and sparked unparalleled fury amongst the disgruntled student body.
We fully believe that all the wrongfully dimissed staff of the University will be reinstated as said by Hon. Markin which is a very good step in bringing peace and development to the University.
As a result of the efforts to ensure that peace and development prevails in the University, the planned peaceful demonstration which was scheduled to take place on the 18th of March 2019 has been postponed.
On a sad note, it has come to our notice that some people have been hired to discredit the good course the University students fought for.
We want those people to know that irrespective of what they say or write in the media, The Concerned Students and Alumni of UEW remain firm and resolute in ensuring that absolute peace and order is restored at the University of Education, Winneba.
In light of that, The Concerned Students and Alumni want to reiterate the fact that reinstating the wrongfully dismissed staff of the University is not the total solution to the epic chaos that has engulfed the University.
To ensure total peace, we categorically state that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni either resigns or is sacked from the University.
We also call for The Alumni elections to be held in order for the Alumni to have the needed representation it deserves on The University’s Governing Council.
We therefore call on all Regional Coordinators of the Concerned Students And Alumni to put on hold, the plan to transport
students and alumni from far and near to the University since the demonstration won’t come off but rather wait patiently for new directives.
The Concerned Students and Alumni has throwed it’s weight behind the student body and are in full support of their revolutionary actions which will go a long way to ensure that UEW is delivered from the hands of tyrannical leadership and set on the rightful path of academic freedom, truth, justice and rapid development it has long deserved.
LONG LIVE GHANA
LONG LIVE UEW
LONG LIVE THE ACADEMIA
SIGNED BY:
AGYAPONG OSEI VICTOR,
LEADER OF THE CONCERNED STUDENTS AND ALUMNI OF UEW
–
By: Delali Adogla-Bessa | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
Follow @delalibessa
