Sack Feuding Factions at Winneba University– UCC Pro Vice-Chancellor Urges Govt

The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, George Kwaku Toku Oduro, is recommending to the government to dissolve the governing Council of the University of Education, Winneba and also remove the acting Vice Chancellor of the University from office.

He believes these actions should be expedited for the progress of the academia in Ghana.

According to him, getting rid of the two factions that are fighting for power at the University of Education will be the surest way to bring lasting peace to the tertiary institution.

The University of Education has been saddled with controversies and ugly scenes over the leadership of the University in recent times.

Speaking to Joy News, Prof. George Oduro said the situation could be arrested if government steps in.

The University has been visited with one legal battle after the other resulting in the removal of some principal officers of the University including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke.

About a week ago, former UTAG President, Dr Ofori Bekoe was reported to be constantly harassed as the University attempts to eject him from his residence following the impasse.

“My suggestion to the Minister of Education is that the two factions that are struggling over the leadership of the university should be done away with. The council should be dissolved; the acting Vice Chancellor must be made to step aside and a neutral body appointed in the form of an IMC to manage the situation to bring back peace to the campus,” he said.

Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, an alumnus of the University of Education, Winneba has described the happenings as an affront to academic peace and wants the government to act with the speed of light.

“Two clear factions: the Avoke faction and the Afful-Broni factions. So far as one of them remains in leadership, I am afraid the University will know no peace,” he added.

Prof. George Kwaku Toku Oduro says the impact of the factionalism on campus has grave consequences and the forward match of the university.

He wants what happened at the University of Cape Coast some time ago where there was a struggle that has some semblance with the UEW case be used. Government at the time intervened, dissolved the council and asked the vice chancellor to step aside in the interest of peace.

“We need to learn lessons from the University of Cape Coast in the 1980s where the University was so polarized that the government dissolved the council and asked the Vice Chancellor to step aside. Teaching and learning were not effective because of the tension on campus.

“The IMC that was set up and the post IMC saw Prof. SK. Agaypong steering the affairs of the University that brought lasting peace to the University,” he suggested.