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01.09.2011 NDC

NDC Invades Cape Coast Poly

By Daily Guide
Anthony Arku-Korsah addressing the press on MondayAnthony Arku-Korsah addressing the press on Monday
01.09.2011 LISTEN

THE RULING National Democratic Congress (NDC) has allegedly taken their divide and rule tactics to the Cape Coast Polytechnic (C-Poly) where some NDC bigwigs in the Central Region are busily scheming to make one of their party faithful the substantive rector of the school.

In view of this, a pressure group calling itself 'Concerned Patriots of Cape Coast' on Monday, during a press conference in Cape Coast, sent a strong warning to President Mills and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast, Ebo Barton-Odro to desist from influencing NDC sympathizers to take the rectorship position in the polytechnic.

According to the spokesperson of the group, Anthony Arku-Korsah, since 2009, the NDC government had harassed, intimidated and hounded out of office personnel who were alleged to be New Patriotic Party (NPP) sympathizers and replaced with NDC faithful.

Mr Arku-Korsah indicated that President Mills' government allegedly manipulated the search committee for a rector for C-Poly to shortlist a 61-year-old retired lecturer who was illegally appointed as acting rector for seven months, whilst the vice rector, who was expected to take over as rector, was denied.

He said even though the Cape Coast Circuit Court '2' gave a ruling that the vice rector automatically became the substantive rector, while the search for a rector continued, NDC sympathizers were forcing the committee to instate one Dr Lawrence Atepor, who was alleged to be a TEIN patron at the polytechnic.

The spokesperson disclosed that they had evidence that showed how Mr. Barton Odro, the Deputy Attorney General, was able to influence Dr. Ato Cobbina to allegedly place his wife, Mrs. Barton Oduro, on the governing council of the polytechnic and on the search committee for a rector.

Mr. Arku-Korsah added that Dr. Cobbina's action went contrary to section 6, subsection 1(L) of the Polytechnics Law of 2007(Act 745) which stated that 'a representative from the Ministry of Education not below the rank of a director ought to be part'.

He therefore wondered why Mrs. Barton Oduro, from the African Studies Department in the University of Cape Coast (UCC), who was not an employee of the Ministry of Education, had been made to represent the ministry on the governing council.

Mr. Arku-Korsah alleged that Dr. Lawrence Atepor had long declared himself as the next rector of C-POLY even though he did not qualify.

Mr. Arku-Korsah alleged that Dr. Atepor was disqualified for the first time but due to his political inclination, he was short-listed for the vacancy while competent professors for the position were disqualified.

He stated that Dr. Atepor had never held any management position at the specific levels for the minimum ten-year requirement specified by the search committee.

Mr. Arku-Korsah noted that their investigations had proved that no professor from the Central Region had been short-listed for the rectorship position, adding that two outstanding professors had been disqualified after interview while the application letters of others were rejected because they could not meet the deadline.

Mr. Arku-Korsah therefore appealed to President Mills to ensure sanity and fair play in the search for a rector for the polytechnic.

The group has also promised to resist the appointment of Dr. Atepor as rector, warning President Mils not to forget his 'Adze wo fie oye' slogan he used to canvass for votes in the 2008 general elections.

From Sarah Owusu-Darlington, Cape Coast
 
 
 
 

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