KNUST VC Back On Governing Council

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has welcomed the intervention of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in the impasse at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The Ashanti Region chapter of UTAG has since called off its strike which was in protest of an earlier decision by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to remove the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof Kwasi Obiri-Danso.

UTAG members in Kumasi left lecture halls following the temporary removal of Prof Obiri-Danso and the dissolution of the KNUST Governing Council – moves government said were necessary to calm violent protests by students last week.

In solidarity with UTAG, the members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU) at the KNUST also hit the streets on Monday to protest the dissolution of the school’s Governing Council.

Related: Otumfuo leads effort to resolve KNUST impasse

The demonstrators hoisted placards that read, “Stop these political tricks,” “No IMC in KNUST,” and “No government Interference,” among others.

UTAG President, Dr Eric Opoku Mensah, told Top Story on Joy FM, Monday that it was optimistic about a roadmap to bring normalcy to the Kumasi-based premier institution of higher learning.

“We are happy with this and we feel that there has been a demonstration of maturity by the government in this whole deliberation. We are asking all our sister unions and KNUST to end the intended strike,” he said.

He explains that following a dialogue between Government and the teacher union it has been agreed that Prof Obiri-Danso will get back on the University’s Governing Council as the Chief Executive of the University.

“The various unions are going to bring their reps [on the new Council] and by Friday, the new Council will be sworn into office ad that ends the work of the Interim Governing Council,” he added.

Government on Monday announced a resolution to the KNUST impasse by requesting Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Chancellor of the Univerity, to lead a process to reconstitute the University’s Governing Council following a widespread rejection of the interim council announced by the government.

The new Council is expected to be reconstituted by Friday, November 2, 2018, and will take over from the Interim Governing Council, according to a press release issued in Accra on Monday by the Information Ministry.

“Government has subsequently engaged with UTAG and updated the Association accordingly. UTAG has undertaken to restore services, cooperate in resolution efforts and encourage other stakeholders to join resolution efforts,” the release signed by the Information Minister designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said.

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