UG Students react to Vice Chancellor's leave order

Accra, May 17, GNA-Students of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, reacted to the directive by the University Council calling on Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Vice-Chancellor of the University, to proceed on leave.

Out of a total of 142 students randomly interviewed on the University campus by the GNA, 50.7 per cent of them said they were against the Council's order and that they wanted the Vice-Chancellor to complete his tenure of office.


The University Council's decision was, however, supported by 46.3 per cent of the students while about 3 per cent of them said they were indifferent about the matter.


Many of the students who were against the call on the Vice-Chancellor to proceed on leave said the involvement of Mr Kwadwo Tabiri Asenso-Okyere, the Vice-Chancellor's son, in examination malpractices in the last Semester Examinations of the University, cannot be used as a basis for calling on Prof Asenso-Okyere resign.


They argued that the Vice-Chancellors son was old enough to face the consequences of his action. Students interviewed were from all the five traditional halls of residence the University.

In a statement to the GNA on Monday, Mr Kwadwo Tabiri Asenso-Okyere said he was an adult and a final year student of the University, who was answerable for all his actions.


He stated: "I am, therefore, at a loss as to the motive for the persistent efforts to drag my father into this whole issue." Mr Asenso-Okyere said he was very disheartened about the relentless efforts by some forces to pull his father into this whole affair. He reminded the public that there was nowhere in the Mfodwo Committee Report that Prof Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere was mentioned.


Mr Asenso-Okyere said: "I want to place on record that I have never travelled out of the country since last semester, that I cooperated with the Mfodwo Committee and I have started appearing before the Disciplinary Committee."


He apologised to the University for his involvement in the leakage, which has brought the institution into disrepute.