You can’t dictate to us - UTAG tells government

The local chapter of the University Teachers Association (UTAG) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called the bluff of government, describing its stance on the KNUST impasse as 'ugly and tyrannical'.

The government was expected to reconstitute a new Governing Council for the KNUST by Friday, November 2, 2018 after it dissolved an interim governing council which it was said the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II wasn’t pleased with.

Government was not happy with UTAG’s decision to maintain its old members on the yet to be constituted governing council, stating that until UTAG changes its members, it was not ready to present any list hence, failing to constitute a new council for the KNUST by the Friday, November 2, 2018 set date.

The Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Ekow Vincent Assafuah said UTAG had betrayed government’s trust since a “gentleman’s agreement” was reached to have all representatives for the new Council changed.

He explained that the agreement was to repose confidence in the reconstituted Council as the outgoing one was blamed for the happenings at the school.

"Government was going to change its representatives on the Council but UTAG’s move makes the process useless". He indicated in a show MyNewsGh.com monitored.

But speaking on Kumasi-based Pure FM’s ‘Bresosem’ political show with Dr. Otchere Addai Mensah, the Vice-President of UTAG KNUST described as incoherent and exhibition of totalitarianism by a government which pride itself with the believe in the rule of law.

Prof. Charles Marfo intimated that, the government cannot dictate to UTAG on who to represent them at any level and KNUST will not be the first to bow to this ugly tyrannical call.

"Who determines incompetence performance in any University? Why are you blaming the governing council? Can we also blame the Education Minister who presides over all educational issues or do we have a legitimate claim if we call for the head of the National Security Minister because it also failed to pick intelligence of the riots that happened?"

"Should the Students also change their representatives on the council?...Doc, what standard are they using to measure who is competent and incompetent?" He queried.