University of Ghana Council receives report

Accra, Sept. 29 GNA - The Council of the University Of Ghana on Tuesday received the Report of the Disciplinary Committee investigating allegations of misconduct against four Senior Members of the University from Professor Clifford N.B. Tagoe, Acting Vice-Chancellor. A release, signed by A. T. Konu, Registrar and Secretary to the Council, and made available to the GNA on Thursday, however, said, "the report of the Disciplinary Committee on the named junior members was not yet ready."

The release said; "the Acting Vice-Chancellor told the Council that since the matters under investigation by the Disciplinary Committees were inter-related and came from the report of the Mfodwo Committee, he thought it prudent to wait for the report of the second committee (namely that for Junior Members) before taking any disciplinary action". The release said: "Council agreed with the Ag. Vice-Chancellor that this was a reasonable position to take." The University of Ghana was thrown into turmoil during the 2004 academic year after widespread examination leakage involving a number of students including the son of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere.

The University subsequently set up committees in investigate the matter.

The GNA reported on August 26 2005 that: "The Council of the University of Ghana is yet to resolve the crisis that hit the University, following irregularities during the 2004 November/December End-of-Semester Examinations. "More than four months after the Council initiated moves to resolve the problem, the Committees it tasked to investigate the crisis are yet to submit its report.

"An Official at the University's Relations Office told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday that they could not tell when the Committee's Report would be ready. "'Please bear with us, we are equally anxious and as soon as it is ready, we will not hesitate and go public on it." "The Official said they did not want to pry into the Committee's work since it had to do with the integrity of some people. "He said it was for that reason that they thought the Committee should not be stampeded and be allowed to do its own thing without interference.

"The Council of the University accepted the decision of some heads of the premier University to step aside to facilitate the disciplinary proceedings on examination malpractices. "The Heads were Professor Edward Ofori-Sarpong, Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Professor Kwasi Agyeman, Head of the Philosophy Department, Professor Clara Fayorsey, Head of the Sociology Department and Mr. T. Tabi, Director of Academic Affairs.

"The decision was the outcome of a special meeting by the Council to discuss the Mfodwo Committee's Report on examination malpractices during the first semester of the 2004-2005 academic year. "In the unfolding drama the Council directed the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere to proceed on leave or get sacked. "The Vice-Chancellor petitioned the Council and it later changed its decision and gave him more time to react fully to the Council's observations after which, Council will reconvene on Thursday 26th May 2005 to conclude discussions' on his petition.

"Prof. Asenso-Okyere in a statement issued on Tuesday May 31 also said he would be stepping aside with effect from June 8, 2005 until the Committees set up to deal with disciplinary issues raised by the Mfodwo Committee submitted its report and the University Council ratified their recommendations for appropriate action.

"The Vice-Chancellor announced the following administrative arrangements: 'Professor C.N.B. Tagoe, the Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, would act as Vice-Chancellor; Professor Anna Reynolds Barnes, Acting Provost of College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, would act as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, until further notice.' "He appealed to the University community to cooperate with the officers in the discharge of their duties.

"Prof. Barnes has since gone on statutory retirement and Prof Kwesi Yankah has been made the Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor. However, soon after the GNA had come out with the report, a plethora of e-mails, letters and telephone calls were received by the Agency, which said the Committee had completed its work. "By the time I was leaving Ghana on Aug. 14, the report had been submitted at least one week. I have been here for at least two weeks", one of the e-mails said.

Another e-mail said: "Please continue to press the Legon authorities to release the report of the Disciplinary Committees. I think the haste with which the Mfodwo Report was leaked should match the haste with which these reports are released." 29 Sept. 05