The University of Ghana has dissociated itself from some controversial comments made by a visiting Nigerian lecturer, Professor Austin Nwagbara.
Prof. Nwagbara in the video, which has gone viral on social media, accused the University of Ghana of overcharging Nigerian students and asked such students to take over the university and others in Ghana.
In the video, the said professor also allegedly admonished the students to use the Nigerian media to paint Ghana black to the international community.
In a statement, the University of Ghana stated that although professor Austin Nwagbara was a visiting scholar at the University during the 2011/12 academic year, he has since left the university.
“The University of Ghana’s attention has been drawn to a circulating on social media platform which features an individual who has been linked to the University of Ghana. Beyond the many provocative statements, he launches into a tirade against universities in Ghana in general and the University of Ghana in particular.”
“The said professor has been identified as Professor Austin Nwagbara, a Nigerian Professor of English who is currently not a member of the faculty at the University of Ghana. Our records show that Prof. Nwagbara was a Visiting Scholar at the Department of English during the 2011/12 academic year from August 8, 2011, to July 30, 2012.”
The university, in the statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Stella A. Amoa, described the comments as mischievous and urged the public to treat the video with the contempt it deserves.
“The claims Professor Nwagbara makes in the video relating to the University’s sources of income, students fees, etc. are incorrect and do not in any way represent the true facts and figures of the University’s income and state of affairs. The University of Ghana dissociates itself from the claims Professor Austin Nwagbara makes in the video which we find as mischievous and intended to mislead the public and harm the reputation of the University. The public is advised to treat the contents of the said video with the contempt it deserves,” the statement added.
Austin Nwagbara is also a visiting professor at the University of Education, Winneba.
Prof. Austin arrested
Prof. Austin Nwagbara was arrested and interrogated at the police headquarters in Accra over the contents of the video but was later granted bill.
According to the Professor, Nigeria already has a bad image mainly because of how they have been branded by others, especially by Ghana, so it is time to reciprocate that by coming up with innovative ideas and strategies.
In the video, he was seen meeting with some Nigerians in Ghana and implored them to use the Nigerian media to destroy Ghana in the eyes of the international community through negative reportage.