Reinstate all dismissed UEW lecturers – Afenyo-Markin to V-C

The Member of Parliament for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Reverend Father Professor Anthony Afful-Broni to reinstate all dismissed lecturers of the university.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said the V-C should adopt a reconciliatory posture and reciprocate the goodwill shown by aggrieved parties in the recent impasse, which led to the temporary closure of the university.

His call follows the reinstatement of some three lectures of the university (Prof. Ephraim Avea Nsoh, Dr Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, and Dr Frimpong Kwaku Duku) who were accused of misconduct and insubordination.

Their dismissal caused an uproar on campus.

At least 30 staff of the university, including 23 lecturers have lost their jobs within the past year.

Speaking to Class News’ parliamentary correspondent, Ekow Annan, Mr Afenyo-Markin called on the V-C to ensure total peace on campus by reinstating all the dismissed lecturers and non-teaching staff.

He said: “We need to resolve the matter once and for all. As far as I know, from the meetings I’ve participated in and the conclusions arrived there, all those who were sacked as a result of a disagreement with the new management in one way or the other were supposed to be reinstated and I believe the vice-chancellor is well aware of this.

“He and I know that those people, most of them were seen as supporters of Avoke. We have been all tasked to ensure reconciliation. Reconciliation should not be done in a manner that will not give a positive impression. Dr Bekoe is supposed to be reinstated, I don’t see why Bekoe must be left out, I don’t see why Agbesi will still have to sit at home on suspension. I don’t see why Dr Duku will be reinstated and others left out”, he said, explaining that in the case of one “Mr Quarshie, the circumstances for the termination of his appointment were unfair and, so, I expect that the right things will be done…”

Mr Afenyo-Markin's position dovetails into Dr Duku’s idea that the university’s Governing Council was engaging in “selective justice”.

According to Dr Duku, all the sacked lecturers must be reinstated rather than just the three of them.

Reacting to his reinstatement in an interview with Benjamin Akakpo on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Thursday, 4 April 2019, Dr Duku, who is also the UEW Chapter president of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), said he was unhappy his other colleagues sacked by the V-C had not been reinstated.

Dr Duku said: “I’ll be the happiest man if all those sacked were being reinstated. As it is now, there appears to be selective justice where they believe the leadership of the association and those that had a mouth must be reinstated while those that have kept quiet all this while who have suffered these illegal dismissals are home. I’m not sure I’m the happiest person.”

Asked if reinstating all sacked staff of the university would make him happy, Dr Duku said: “That should be the ideal [situation] because if you look at the reasons for dismissing those staff, it is something that we believe they could have also been pardoned as well. So, as a leader, I’m not sure I should be happy I’ve been reinstated while my friends and colleagues are at home. So, I think the best way was to give that broader amnesty to everybody.”