We’ll not reinstate dismissed UEW Senior lecturers - Governing Council to Education Minister

The governing council of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has rejected a directive by the Minister of Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh to reinstate three dismissed senior lecturers of the institution.

It would be recalled that the Minister last week directed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Reverend Father Prof Anthony Afful-Broni to immediately reinstate the over 30 staff including senior lecturers dismissed under his watch.

But the governing council at an emergency meeting held on Monday, March 18, 2019 upheld the decision to summarily dismiss the three including Professor Ephraim Avea Nsoh former Upper East Regional Minister and Principal of the College of Languages Education at Ajumako and one Dr. Frimpong Kakyire Duku who is the local President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).

Justifying the decision the council Chairman in a statement in respect of Dr. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong said “Dr. Sarpong’s aberrant behaviour has not ceased. He and others have been captured on video urging the students on and inciting them to upscale the unruly behaviour that led to violence and destruction on campus”

He added “ Prof. Avea Nsoh’s disciplinary action followed similar due process that was used to bring disciplinary action against Dr. Duku. However, because of Prof. Avea Nsoh’s status as Principal of a College and for that matter a Principal Member of the University, a Disciplinary Board comprising high profile members from the Governing Council, a staff of Professorial Status and another external person of high repute was set up by the Governing Council to address charges that had been raised against Prof. Avea Nsoh.

The Disciplinary Board found that Prof. Avea Nsoh organised a talk/seminar on Campus on a matter that was before the High Court without due approval from Management; and at that talk played the role of a University spokesmen, made wicked insinuations and unreasonably attacked Management.

ii. Had on several occasions shown that he had no regard for Authority in the University.



iii. Habitually absented himself from duty without any cause or reasonable excuse”.

The council chairman also stated “Duku was handed the letter inviting him to meet an Investigative Body on July 20th, 2018. The Disciplinary process is in two parts. Under the first part, the affected individual is summoned before an Investigative Body; and under the second part, the person is summoned before a Disciplinary Board if ended about 5 months before he prevailed in his Appeal Court case in January, 2019. Dr. Duku appeared before the Investigative Committee set up to investigate his conduct and made submissions. When the Investigative Committee submitted its report to the Disciplinary Board, Dr. Duku decided not to appear before the Committee with a letter from his lawyers advising him not to make any appearance.

Dr. Frimpong Duku’s behaviour during and after the violence unleashed on the University. Dr. Frimpong Duku, interestingly, is one of the three personalities whose actions urged students to engage in violent behaviour during the March 14, 2019 riot. There are several videos in our possession and circulating on social media as evidence of this rabble rousing and needlessly inciting behaviour visited on our students in the Winneba Campus”