The Council in a statement signed by its Chairman, Prof. Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah, said “The stepping aside is without prejudice to the outcome of the issues at the courts.”

“We urge the general public to crosscheck their facts before making pronouncements on the decisions taken by the governing council of the University of Education, Winneba,” the statement added.

The school is currently under investigation after a complaint was filed by one Supi Kofi Kwayera, alleging financial and procurement irregularities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vJwukL5PfNrivnRbbmL8woxdsGHtIFTw”]The council on October 31, 2017 asked its Vice Chancellor and five other top officers to step aside, after it emerged that some vital documents at some offices at the centre of the ongoing investigation had gone missing.

Some persons, who are keenly interested in the matter have however criticized the decision saying it could be prejudicial against the case in court.

Prof. Abakah further explained that, asking the six officers in question to step aside was in respect of the ongoing investigation.

“We wish to put on record that the recent decision of the governing council to request six (6) of our officers to step aside was purely in respect of the on-going investigations by EOCO, BNI and the Governing Council,” the statement added.

The affected UEW officers are:

1.Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Vice Chancellor

2.Dr. Theopilus Senyo Ackorlie, Finance Officer

3.Mr. Frank Owusu Boateng, Deputy Finance Officer

4.Ms Sena Dake, Internal Auditor

5.Ms. Mary Dzimey, Ag. Head of Procurement

6.Ing. Daniel Tetteh, Ag. Deputy Director of Workds & Physical Development

Background

A Winneba High Court some months ago also ordered the Vice Chancellor of UEW, Professor Mawutor Avokeh, to step aside until a case brought against him and the University’s Governing Council is determined.

The order also affected the institution’s Finance Officer.

The order was made in a case brought before the court by Supi Kofi Kwayera, who insisted that the Vice Chancellor and the Finance Officer, were operating under the institution’s defunct governing council.

The plaintiff adduced that the University’s Council’s mandate had expired in November 2013, but the Education Ministry failed to constitute a new Governing Council for the university, and rather allowed and permitted the defunct Governing Council which had no mandate whatsoever to continue the functions of a properly constituted Governing Council as if same had been properly constituted.

This, Mr. Kwayera insisted was unlawful, and hence his legal action against the University of Education, Winneba.

However, before the substantive claims were looked into, the University, through its lawyers, applied to the court to dismiss the suit on the three counts, but the application was dismissed.

The University’s branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), also applied to join the application but it was turned down.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Action against VC, others won’t prejudice court case – UEW Board  appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Spokesperson for the graduates, Alfred Kumah Brown said the absence of governing councils is hampering the smooth running of technical universities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7sgY2mTSjqm5mHSrgQWrAPDbOJ3f0bPH”]He said students who have successfully completed their programmes of study have no certificates due to the inability of these institutions to organize graduation ceremonies.

“We have completed school over a year now without certificates. It is not that we failed our courses. We passed! We paid our school fees and we successfully completed the various courses, but here we are today without a certificate.”

“It is unfortunate that a government which talks about industrialization still does not want to give attention to technical universities. We plead with the Nana Addo government to constitute governing councils,” Mr. Brown pleaded.

Constitute Councils for Universities or face our wrath – UTAG

In July, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) gave government a two-week ultimatum to constitute Councils of the various universities in the country or face their wrath.

The National President of UTAG, Harry Agbanu, said the situation had left universities in a state of inaction thus threatening upcoming graduation and crucial contracts among others.

“UTAG has noted with extreme dismay that government since taking office on 7 July 2017, has not been able to constitute the Councils of public universities in Ghana. The government’s inability to do this, while having constituted other important boards of the state after six good months of office, we believe demonstrates government’s lack of concern of the health of public universities. NEC of UTAG feels strongly it is unacceptable and even unethical for public universities management and administration, and the sooner government constitutes these Councils the better.”

UTAG’s request for the constitution of Governing Councils followed a suit by private citizen, Supt. Kofi Kwayera against the University of Education, Winneba, and the Education Ministry over the unlawful extension of the school’s Governing Council’s tenure.

The leadership of technical universities in Ghana had also issued a two-week ultimatum to government to immediately constitute governing councils for their respective schools.

According to them, the non -existence of governing councils in various technical universities and polytechnics is hampering the smooth administration of the schools.

In the midst of pressure on government to constitute these boards, the acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has asked state institutions to be patient as government is in the process of constituting the boards.

He explained that the process requires time since government will have to adhere to the constitutional provisions.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Graduates stage demo to demand governing councils appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A 16-member Council for the University of Ghana was inaugurated on Thursday to govern the affairs of the school.

The Council, which will be chaired by Prof. Yaw Twumasi was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

According to Professor Oduro Owusu, “the absence of a Council has meant that many decisions and initiatives at the University have had to be placed on hold.”

He added that “I look forward to the inauguration of the new Council, and to working with members to move the University forward.”

Prof. Owusu said this during the University of Ghana’s College of Humanities Undergraduate Congregation at the weekend.

He said 3,858 students were to graduate on Friday and Saturday at various levels from all the four Colleges of the University of Ghana.

This is made up of 1,148 at the Postgraduate, 2,449 at the Bachelor, and 261 at the Diploma levels respectively.

Prof Owusu challenged the graduating students to raise the bar of excellence and to be team players wherever they find themselves.

The Chief Operating Officer, and co-founder of Ghana Home Loans, Kojo Addo-Kufuor, urged the graduates to set ambitious goals as they follow their passion to fulfill their desired purpose in life.

He advised them to start saving towards their pension and not to wait until they are nearing the retirement age.

Mr. Addo-Kufuor, who was the guest speaker at the event, told the graduates to consider every job opportunity as an entry point into their desired career.

Mr. David Agyeman-Duah, the Valedictorian, urged his colleague graduates to go into the world and take up entrepreneurship.

–

Source: GNA

The post Absence of University Council stalled progress – UG Vice Chancellor appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They want the Minister of Education Matthew Opoku Prempeh to mediate in the crisis which affected the smooth running of the school.

A Winneba High Court on Friday ordered the Vice Chancellor of the university to step aside in an ongoing suit challenging the legitimacy of the school’s Governing Council and some administrators.

Lectures in the school have declared a strike to protest against the ruling.

[contextly_sidebar id=”z1Pe8mYYqY67VZ5AkDGZ36Dlxq08rzmd”]Speaking to Citi News the Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe lashed out at the Minister of Education for doing little about the situation.

“I am of the view that the intervention of the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, will go a long way to resolve the matter. This is what I have been expecting from him for a long time now. If he had intervened earlier I’m sure matters wouldn’t have reached the level it has gotten to now. So I feel that if he does that help in bringing normalcy to the university.”

He said it is rather unfortunate that only two principal positions out of three appointed by the governing board have been asked to step aside.

“…Now they have asked two of the three officers appointed by that authority to step aside and honour over to the third person who is was also appointed. That is where I’m not comfortable because if three are appointed and we say they are not legally recognized then the three of them should go away not hand over to another person who was appointed by that authority. That is where the problem is and that is what UTAG is not happy about. Because if you say A and B should not be there why should C remain in office? That is where I expect the minister to come in,” he added.

Court orders UEW Vice Chancellor to step aside

Nortsu-Kotoe‘s remark comes on the back of a High Court order to the Vice Chancellor of UEW, Professor Mawutor Avokeh, to step aside until a case brought against him is determined.

The court order also affected the school’s Finance Officer.

The court made the order in a case brought before it by one, Supi Kofi Kwayera who insisted the Vice Chancellor and the Finance Officer were operating under the institution’s defunct governing council.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NAPO must intervene in UEW crisis – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Almost 40 professorial appointments at the University of Ghana are on hold due to the failure of government to constitute a governing council for the University.

According to the Registrar and Secretary to the Council of the University, Mercy Haizel Ashia, the absence of a council is affecting the proper administration of the University.

[contextly_sidebar id=”It4zH5VMqj1rkTYA3OkJh7cm5PylDG2l”]“Close to 40 professorial appointments that are awaiting Councils that are coming into office and determining their appointments. What this will mean is that come 1 st August, those whose appointments will lapse on 31st, I really don’t know what will happen. There is a lot of pressure on the management system.”

Even though the previous Council was constituted only four months to the 2016 elections, it was dissolved following the change of government in line with the transitional provisions of the Constitution of Ghana.

Constitute Councils for Universities or face our wrath – UTAG

On Wednesday, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) gave government a two-week ultimatum to constitute Councils of the various universities in the country or face their wrath.

The National President of UTAG, Harry Agbanu, said the situation has left universities in a state of inaction, threatening upcoming graduation and crucial contracts among others.

“UTAG has noted with extreme dismay that government since taking office on 7 July 2017, has not been able to constitute the Councils of public universities in Ghana. The government’s inability to do this, while having constituted other important boards of the state after six good months of office, we believe demonstrates government’s lack of concern of the health of public universities. NEC of UTAG feels strongly it is unacceptable and even unethical for public universities management and administration, and the sooner government constitutes these Councils the better.”

UTAG’s request for the constitution of Governing Councils follows a suit by private citizen, Supt. Kofi Kwayera against the University of Education, Winneba, and the Education Ministry over the unlawful extension of the school’s Governing Council’s tenure.

The leadership of technical universities in Ghana have also issued a two-week ultimatum to government to immediately constitute governing councils for their respective schools.

According to them, the non -existence of governing councils in various technical universities and polytechnics is hampering the smooth administration of the schools.

–

By: Marian Ansah & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post We’re under pressure over absence of governing council – UG Registrar appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QN839Jin559UFS5tHwcDaHLVbZJloBMC”]On June 16 this year, counsel for the University and the Ministry of Education, Peter Zwennes, prayed the court to dismiss the suit, because in their view, the plaintiff, Supi Kwayera, lacks the capacity to sue the institution.

The counsel again argued that the court also lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the claims by the plaintiff.

The University’s counsel further prayed the court to dismiss Supi Kwayera’s suit also because the plaintiff’s mode of application was not right in law.

Background

In a 23rd May 2017 writ issued, the plaintiff adduced that in November 2009, a Governing Council of the 1st Respondent (University of Education, Winneba) constituted. The said Council was to carry out its functions until its mandate lapsed after two years.

It noted that after the end of the two years, the tenure of the Governing Council was further renewed for two years certain thus its mandate expired in November 2013.

However, the 2nd Respondent (the Ministry of Education) failed to constitute a new Governing Council for the 1st Respondent after the mandate of the said Governing Council had lapsed, but rather allowed and permitted the defunct Governing Council which had no mandate whatsoever to continue the functions of a properly constituted Governing Council as if same had been properly constituted.

This Mr. Kwayera finds as unlawful and hence his legal action against the University of Education, Winneba.

However, before the substantive claims are looked into, the University, through its counsel, applied to the court to dismiss the suit on the three counts mentioned above. But the substantive case can now go ahead once their application has been dismissed.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, the counsel for the plaintiff, AlexanderAfenyo Markin, said, “This action is not being brought to frustrate any individual, or is not being brought in bad faith, but for the public good”.

“We are all looking at the betterment of Winneba. We are all looking at the betterment of the University, to function and act in the confines of the law; and we expect that courageous and patriotic citizens like Kofi Kwayera be celebrated under such circumstances”, he added.

However, the court has set Wednesday, July 12, to rule on a joinder application by the University’s branch of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) as a respondent.

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By: Jospeh Ackon/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Winneba High Court dismisses UEW application appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a writ sighted by Citi News, he also accused the Governing Council of misappropriating the funds of the University after the expiration of its two tenure in 2013.

[contextly_sidebar id=”JngNYkMixN318Vh6D3L7xZFV3laaAyYV”]The suit comes months after the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Afenyo Markin, called for the immediate withdrawal of thousands of certificates issued by the University of Education, Winneba, since 2013.

The MP argued that, such certificates and degrees had been invalidated by the fact that an “illegal” University Council caused them to be issued without proper legal authority.

The mandate of the University Council expired since 2013, but a silent presidential directive caused the members of the Council to continue to serve in apparent defiance of the law establishing the University.

The Ghanaian Citizen is seeking the following reliefs: 

A declaration that the extension of the mandate of the Governing Council of the 1st Respondent by the 2nd respondent to stay in office to perform such functions as a properly appointed council was in breach of Section 8 Act 672.

A declaration that all decisions taken by the defacto body of persons who constituted themselves as Governing Council is null and void and of no effect.

A declaration that the contracts awarded to Sparkxx Gh Ltd, Paabadu Construction and C-Deck, were done in breach of the Procurement Act (Act 663).

A declaration that all payments made to Lamas Ltd were done without the express written consent of the Ghana Highway Authority, and in breach of the Memorandum of Understanding and same must be refunded.

A declaration that the illegally appointed Principal Officers of the 1st Respondent willfully misappropriated public funds by failing to put to public tender for the construction of the North campus road and thereby causing financial loss to the state.

The University says it has been served with the suit and will respond appropriately.

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By: Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post UEW, gov’t sued over extension of Governing Council’s tenure appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.