Tension at KNUST over TEWU National Delegates’ Conference

Stakes are high at the ongoing National Delegates Conference of the Tertiary Educational Workers Union (TEWU) in Kumasi over the alleged autocratic leadership of Chairman Dr. Peter Kwaku Lumor.

Police personnel were brought in to restore calm on Thursday due to a decision which some members claim was contrary to the TEWU constitution.

Some members and executives are threatening to disrupt the conference on Friday.

It is scheduled to take place at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

TEWU’s Greater Accra Regional 1st Vice Chairman, Effah Baffoe Gyamfi, in an interview Onua FM’s Yen Sempa on Friday said “the chairman is trying hard to disqualify competent members from contesting elections and promoting his favourite and about 90% of delegates in session are angry at national chairman’s Peter Kwaku Lumour attitude at Congress”.

He said “there has been serious tension that has mounted against the national chairman over his dictatorship and autocratic style of chairing 2019 TEWU conference by not allowing members to talk on issues”.

Mr. Effah Baffoe Gyamfi said “we wanted to prevent him from chairing the meeting but the police were invited to calm tempers down”.

“If the chairman does not know you, he would not allow you to talk at a meeting,” he alleged.

Mr. Baffoe Gyamfi added that “the constitution of TEWU states that, you give delegates the financial report of the year two weeks ahead of the conference but it was given to us at the conference in KNUST but when it was raised, he did not allow for discussions. We shall not allow him to have his way. We are not kids”.

He added that “an injunction has been placed on some people not to contest. Those who are capable of winning are being prevented from contesting the election”.

Mr. Baffoe Gyamfi promised that “we will not use violence. We shall use the law”.