KNUST: TEWU shoots down government’s position on old council

The KNUST branch of Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) has kicked against government’s decision to compel groups to change their representatives on the university’s governing council.

In October, attempts by the government to run the university with an interim governing council was fiercely resisted by the KNUST chapters of University Teachers Association of Ghana, TEWU as well as the Administrators’ association.

Following that botched exercise, the Chancellor of the KNUST, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was tasked by government to re-constitute the 17-member council.

After days of feet dragging, the government finally submitted names of four persons, on Saturday, to be members of the new council but under certain conditions: none of the old council members should be on the new council.

But the various groups with representatives on the councils, find government’s stance untenable.

Meanwhile, TEWU members have vowed that they would not resume work until the governing council is reconstituted.

“Our members will continue long meetings everyday until the new governing council is reconstituted with our existing representatives.

“Much as we cannot dictate to the government whom it should bring to the council, equally the government cannot dictate for us who to represent us on the council” chairman of KNUST-TEWU, Charles Arthur pointed out.

Meanwhile, some of the damaged items on the Kwame Nkrumah university of Science and Technology campus have been fixed.

Broken glasses at the main administration block have been replaced.

Other items such as the security entrance in all the hall of residences and the CCTV cameras are yet to be replaced.

But management say they are ready to welcome students to continue with their academic works this week.

Meanwhile, security remains tight at the administration block and other vantage areas of the university.

Students of KNUST were asked to vacate the university campus after a violent demonstration that led to the vandalisation of the administration block, 30 vehicles, 14 motor bikes and other school properties.