Wa Polytechnic In Shambles; President Mahama Orders Dissolution Of Governing Council

President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate dissolution of the Governing Council of Wa Polytechnic following a protracted internal wrangling in the school that has been dragged on for two years now.

President Mahama gave this directive when he visited Sunyani Polytechnic to inaugrate the Hospitality, Catering and institutional management block as part of his accounting to the people tour of the Brong Ahafo Region. This decision is based on a

advise from the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE). According to a press release by the National Council for Tertiary Education, ' a three-member committee interim management committee has been appointed to take charge over the day to day management of the polytechnic and to take specific steps to restore normalcy in the governance of the school within the next four months'.

Baground
" A ministerial commitee was tasked to carry out a thorough investigation into the various complains and petitions, which largely centered on issues related to the decision of the council to renew the term of office of the rector for two years after expiry of his initial four-year contract at the time. The situation was further aggravated by an impasse between the rector on one hand and the former registrar and finance officer on the other." Upon investigations, Efforts which were made by the committee to engage parties involved in a process aimed at settling the issue amicably proved futile. The Ministry of Education therefore interceded directly and summoned the parties to Accra for deliberations but to no avail. This situation has hindered administrative works and adversely affected teaching and learning at the polytechnic which has resulted in low staff and student morale. These happenings have also undermined the position of the polytechnic in the on-going efforts by government to convert polytechnics into technical universities.

It is in the light of all these problems that compelled the NCTE to recommend the dissolution of the governing council and institute institute pragmatic measures to control the administration of the institute.

"The council is calling on all stakeholders including students, parents, staff, alumni and the wider community to offer their support to the committee to work in order to restore normalcy to the business of the polytechnic within a short period of time, the statement concluded.