You can’t dictate to us who to put on KNUST Council- UTAG condemns govt’s ‘ugly posture’

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’s 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 the 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.

He further insisted that, UTAG KNUST will not change its members on the KNUST governing council and it is up to the government to prolong the constitution of the governing council or go ahead and present its list so the students can assume academic life.

Dr. Harry Agbanu, the President of the University of Ghana’s UTAG who also spoke on the same platform expressed shocked and disappointment over the sudden u-turn of government.

He stated that the position by the government to impress on the KNUST UTAG to change its members before it collaborates on the inauguration of the governing council is very awful and will not be entertained under their watch.

According to him, KNUST will not be the first to support this illegality as its stance will not be compromised.

Dr. Agbanu rather advised the government to see to it that the needful is done as the students are the ultimate losers in their incoherent position.

The KNUST Council is made up of 15 members of four government representatives, the Vice Chancellor and 10 institutional representation.