The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is pleading with the governing council of the University of Education Winneba to reinstate some 23 staff, including Prof Mawutor Avoke, who were sacked as vice chancellor. According to UTAG, the reinstatement of these staff who were dismissed, suspended and demoted, will “contribute to bringing about normalcy” to the university which has since last week Friday been closed down following students protests that turned violent. Sections of the students have since last week Monday been protesting the dismissal of some senior lecturers recently dismissed by the governing council for various alleged offences which UTAG has rejected. Power play at the university involving some top management staff has in the past year caused a seeming crisis in the school following what some described as unlawful removal of Prof Mawutor Avoke as the Vice chancellor. Several others including senior lecturers of the university, have since been sacked, suspended and demoted by Rev Prof Afful-Broni whose appointment as the VC was said to have been influenced by MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin.
But that triggered waves of protest from the students but an attempt by the Police last Thursday to quell one of such protest turned violence following the firing of warning shots and teargas which injured some of the protestors who retaliated by pelting the police. Few hours after the incident, Central Regional Security Council declared the Winneba and Ajumako campuses of the university indefinitely closed, to protect lives and properties. Education Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh on Friday held a meeting between the factions in the crisis in a bid to resolve same as he said it was a “source of worry” to his ministry and other stakeholders. After the meeting, he posted on Facebook: the “differences were addressed and settled with an agreement to collaborate in addressing issues that affect stakeholders directly and indirectly.” The begging But on Monday, Secretary to UTAGE-UEW, Dr. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai wrote to the chairman of the governing council pleading for those who have been dismissed, suspended or demoted to be reinstated in line with the meeting between the factions. “…the University Teachers Association of Ghana UTAG-UEW write to humbly and respectively plead with your to reverse decisions taken by the University in connection with dismissals, termination of appointments, suspensions and demotions of the under listed staff of the university and those unintentionally omitted”. The names included Prof Ephraim Avea Nso, Dr. Samuel Ofori Bekoe, Dr. Samuel Atintono, Dr Frimpong Kaakyire Duku, Dr Emmanuel Sarpong and Dr Wisdom Hodzi. He said “a reversal of such decisions will contribute to bringing about normalcy, peace, unity and most importantly, reconciliation; a call that was trumpeted by” President NanaAkufo-Addo. The letter was copied to the Education Minister, Dr Opoku Prempeh. By 3news.com|Ghana]]>
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