Minister Solves UEW Impasse …Orders Afful-Broni To Re-Instate Dismissed Lecturers, Pay Compensation

The Minister of Education, Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh on Friday reprimanded the Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) and the Governing Council for the manner in which they have so far handled the affairs of the University.

Sources close to the Ministry of Education say, the Minister rebuked the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni in particular over the manner in which he has exhibited acts of inconsistency.

The Minister was particularly unhappy about the fact that, Prof. Afful-Broni attacked his predecessor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke over the award of some contracts, which the current VC then described as shady and tainted with corruption, but which contracts are being continued by the University’s current administration and making payments to the contractors.

The Minister noted that, in view of this development in particular, the VC and the Governing Council had lost the legitimacy and the grounds they cited to dismiss the other six persons, including the former VC, Prof. Mawutor Avoke.

According to our sources, the Education Minister has therefore ordered the VC and the Governing Council to consider payment to the six who were dismissed, prior to the investiture of the current VC, all their compensation and entitlements.

In a related development, the Minister of Education has also ordered the VC and the Governing Council to re-instate the three lecturers, whose dismissals sparked last week’s controversy at the three campuses of the University of Education, Winneba.

He has also advised those dismissed to petition the Governing Council against their dismissals for consideration and reversal by the Governing Council.

To the Minister, if this is done and the dismissals are reversed, that could open a new beginning and chapter in the affairs of the University.

Meanwhile, staff and lecturers of the University of Education have commended the Education Minister, Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for his swift intervention in the impasse in an attempt to restore peace to the University.

It will be recalled that, the University was last week engulfed by some controversies culminating in its closure last Thursday by the Central Regional Security Council (REGSEC), headed by the Regional Minister, Kwamina Duncan.

The Immediate cause of the controversy was said to be the dismissals of some three senior lecturers, Dr. Kaakyire Duku, Dr. Sarpong and Prof. Ephraim Avea Nsoh.

Following this development, angry students staged a series of demonstrations on the three campuses of the University at Winneba, calling on the VC and the Governing Council to reverse the decision of face their wrath.

The demonstrations reached a crescendo last Thursday as angry students destroyed both the University and private properties resulting in police reinforcement being deployed to maintain peace and order at the University’s campuses at Winneba.