UTAG to strike against ‘attack on academic freedom’

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has hinted of embarking on an indefinite strike in the face of administrative wrangling at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). According to the country’s lecturers, what is happening at UEW is an attack on academic freedom and that “must be resisted”. Already, lecturers at the Central Region university are on strike. READ: UEW lecturers strike indefinitely after court ordered removal of VC, CFO A Winneba High Court in July ordered the reconstitution of the governing council of the University of Education, Winneba, calling the stay in office by the then Vice Chancellor and Chief Finance Officer as illegitimate. The two were, as a result, ordered to step aside. But UTAG says since the reconstitution of the council, “no commitment has been shown to resolve the problem” and for the interdicted officers to resume their positions. ‘Laughing stock’ Speaking on TV3’s Midday Live on Wednesday, National President of UTAG Dr Harry Agbanu said the situation at UEW is making Ghana’s academic environment “a laughing stock among our colleagues elsewhere”. He considers the board dilly-dallying in calling back the two senior officers. He even raised issues with the current chair of the governing council at UEW. “He is not qualified to be there,” he stated, alluding to Professor Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah’s position at Jayee University College as its President. But Dr Agbanu pointed out that that does not concern them too much than to see the proper structures of UEW put to work. He said Prof Abakah’s appointment is purely political and he would not want to comment on that but called for the right thing to be done. He said the Court’s order was clear by not ordering the Vice Chancellor and the Chief Finance Officer out but wanting a new council in place for their stay to be legitimised. By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|editors.3news.com|Ghana Follow @kwame_amoh