Group expresses concern about appointment of Rector

Cape Coast Aug. 29, GNA - A Group calling itself 93Concerned Patriots of Cape Coast" on Monday appealed to President John Atta Mills to ensure tha= t fair play, devoid of political manipulation and maneuvering, was brought to bear on the appointment of the next Rector of Cape Coast Polytechnic. The Group told a press conference that they would resist the appointment of one Dr Lawrence Atepor as the Rector of the Cape Coast Polytechnic in the face of the political manipulation that had taken place to favour him.

Mr Anthony Arku-Korsah, spokesperson for the group, alleged that the government had resolved to exclude qualified Cape Coasters and indigenes of the Central Region from the position and other positions in Cape Coast Polytechnic. He said this was confirmed by the short-listing of Dr Lawrence Atepor who by every academic measure was unqualified. Mr Arku-Korsah said Dr Atepor was disqualified in the first instance that he applied for the position but per political maneuverings and manipulations, all the qualified professors who were interviewed were disqualified and nomination re-opened. He alleged that Dr Atepor reapplied and has now been shortlisted. Mr Arku-Korsah said Dr Atepor had not held management position at the specified levels for the minimum 10-year requirement and questioned why Dr Atepor was shortlisted against professors from the Central Region who applied for the position.

Mr Arku-Korsah said he was unhappy with the appointment of Mrs Barton-Oduro, wife of the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast, as a member of the Cape Coast Polytechnic Governing Council and by extension being a member of the search committee for the Rectorship position contrary to Section 6 sub-section 1(l) of the polytechnic law of 2007. According to him the law states that a representative from the Ministry of Education should not be below the rank of a Director but Mrs Oduro, who is an ordinary lecturer at the African Studies Department in University of Cape Coast and not at the level of a director and not an employee of the specified ministry, is representing the Ministry of Education on Council. This, he said, was a clear illegality and fraud and asked that the situation should be looked at critically to prevent any chaos at the Cape Coast Polytechnic. Efforts to contact the Cape Coast Polytechnic Council Chairman provide= d futile.