UDS fracas settled

The longstanding row between the University for Development Studies (UDS) Central Students Representative Council (SRC) President, Mr. Naab S.A. Alphonse and the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Kaku Sagari Nokoe has now been settled.

The Vice Chancellor has reinstated the SRC President, Mr. Naab Alphonse and his Secretary, Owusu Aboagye, to their respective positions, after the students formally apologized to the VC in a meeting on March 17, 2009.

The SRC President and the Secretary were suspended by the acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Nokoe in November 2008 for alleged misconducts that sought to tarnish the image of the University. The suspension brought about intense and continued attacks, and counters attacks, as well as reactions and counter reactions, coupled with series of demonstrations and boycotting of lectures by students of the Wa Campus of the UDS in solidarity with the suspended executives.

There were an alleged attempt to destroy the University's property and attack some lecturers, which forced the UDS Executive Committee and the Vice Chancellor to close down the Wa Campus which hosts over 5,000 students, representing half of the entire UDS population, in early February this year. However, the reinstatement of the two executives is to allow for peace, smooth teaching and learning in the University.

A copy of the reinstatement letter intercepted by The Chronicle, dated 17th March, 2009, and signed by Prof K.S. Nokoe addressed to Messrs. Naab S.A. Alphonse and Owusu Aboagye of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies of Wa Campus through the Dean of Students, stated that “I refer to the Memorandum of Understanding of 1st March, 2009, signed on my behalf by the Pro-Vice Chancellor, and the meeting of 17th March, 2009, between SRC and UDS Management with the Alumni in attendance, in which a formal apology was made to the Acting Vice Chancellor and UDS Management.

As indicated at he said meeting, I have accepted the apology and hereby reinstate you with effect from 18th March, 2009, to your respective positions of SRC President and Secretary, Wa Campus/ Central SRC”.

The letter was copied to the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Acting Registrar, Director WPD, Acting Internal Auditor, Ag. Finance Officer, Dean of Faculties, Alumni, Notice Board and File. However, The Chronicle gathered that the Minister of Education, Mr. Alex Tetteh Enyo and the UDS Alumni Association initiated the peace talks.

The paper also gathered that even though the SRC Executives have been reinstated to their positions, their tenure of office had elapsed, and they are supposed to handover the baton to the Nyankpala Campus of the UDS. The Nyankpala Campus would therefore hold its SRC elections to choose new executives for the University.

In a telephone interview with The Chronicle, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Kaku Sagari Nokoe expressed appreciation to the Minister of Education, UDS Alumni Association, and the Executive Committee of the University for the diverse roles they played to restore peace in the school.

He advised the entire students of the UDS, especially the Wa Campus, to put the issue behind them and concentrate on their studies. Prof Nokoe expressed the optimism that the UDS was at the threshold of becoming one of the best Universities, not only in Ghana, but Africa in entirety. He therefore, called for maximum discipline among students, lecturers and other stakeholders to make the dream a reality.