Authorities at the University of Ghana, Legon say, they have received information that some parents with their wards at the University Primary School (UPS) are planning to block the restricted routes into the university.<\/p>\n
The Head of Public Affairs at the university, Stella Amoah in an interview on the Citi Prime News<\/strong> revealed, the school picked up the signals on Tuesday \u201cand we took proactive measures by informing security so that they would not obstruct legitimate users of the road.\u201d<\/p>\n According to her, \u201cobstruction of road is an offense so then, if people who are legitimate have to enter the university, we don\u2019t want people to obstruct the road\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs Amoah therefore assured members of the university community that it is working with the relevant security agencies to maintain law and order, and to ensure there is no interruption in the work of the University.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UPS PTA denies\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Vice Chairman of the Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) of UPS, Rev. Acheampong Yiadom Boakye has denied any such plans by the parents.<\/p>\n He admitted that a series of consultations have been on-going \u201cand there was an emergency PTA meeting last Monday. Parents came up with various positions but whatever position anybody came up with was not necessarily PTA position.\u201d<\/p>\n According to him, the PTA is willing to carry on with ongoing negotiations \u201cbecause we know that the university is being managed by responsible people who are willing to listen and negotiate.\u201d<\/p>\n Rev. Yiadom Boakye clarified that parents \u201care not asking for stickers, they are asking for a pass, but we know that the preparation of the pass will come with a cost so parents would not want that cost to be borne by the university and for that matter, they agreed that let\u2019s pay GHC 100.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Background<\/strong><\/p>\n The university from March 15, 2014, closed all access routes into the school to the public with the exception of the Okponglo entrance.<\/p>\n Prior to the closure, the school authorities announced the decision to the public and advised persons seeking to use the blocked routes to purchase the 2014 UG sticker for GHC 400.<\/p>\n The restricted routes included the Link Gate on the road from Achimota and on the Annie Jiagge Road Extension from Haatso.<\/p>\n Members of the general public without the 2014 UG stickers were subsequently directed to enter and exit the university using the Okponglo entrance of the school.<\/p>\n During the early days of the implementation of the policy, parents with their wards at the UPS and some motorists clashed with security officers of the school.<\/p>\n Some of the parents accused the Vice Chancellor of instituting the policy without due consideration.<\/p>\n Some were also of the view that the new directive was a means of generating funds to pay off a loan facility the school acquired to repair its roads.<\/p>\n Subsequently, the school authorities announced another alternative to run a shuttle services for members of the university community (employees and students), as well as pupils of the UPS who were experiencing difficulty in accessing the school.<\/p>\n Negotiations have since been ongoing between school authorities and the PTA of the UPS.<\/p>\n According to Citi News<\/strong> sources, the university offered to give the parents a discount of about GHC 100 to cover the first term of their wards\u2019 academic year and renew subsequently.<\/p>\n But the parents insist they cannot afford the stickers.<\/p>\n This discussion is said to have hit a snag; hence, their plans to block the Link Gate on the road from Achimota.<\/p>\n Citi News<\/strong> has also gathered that the parents are contemplating dragging the University of Ghana to court over the matter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tolling System<\/strong><\/p>\n The school earlier instituted a tolling system which required drivers to pay specific amounts before gaining entry into the school.<\/p>\n That policy also generated controversy which resulted in a law suit against the school by some students.<\/p>\n The then National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey ordered his security operatives to pull down one of the toll booths and security post at the Okponglo entrance of the school.<\/p>\n According to him, the tolling system was causing traffic on the main Madina- Tetteh Quarshie Highway.<\/p>\n The Presidency then ordered the school authorities to suspend the tolling system.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nFollow @osamidan<\/a>
\n