UTAG will not sacrifice its future for university Students - Bekoe

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has said, it's members will not return to work until the law suit challenging the legality of the University Governing Council’s is over.

The Local President of UTAG at University of Education Winneba Samuel Ofori Bekoe, reiterated that it wasn't University management that close the school but members of the University Community rather asked for the closure of the School because they are not going to work until further notice.

His comments follows the Statement by Winneba High Court that, the court never ordered the closure of the University.

“Even though UTAG is satisfy with court hearing but until the way is clear on where the attack is coming from, UTAG is not going to work." Mr. Bekoe told Class FM Central Regional correspondent Maxwell Attah.

Reacting to the implications of its decision on University students, Mr. Bekoe quizzed "because of University students should I sacrifice my future.”

Adding, the plaintiff is attacking over 65,149 students who have graduated due to his political gain, hence the union will not remain unconcerned.

UTAG expressed concerns over the number of graduates who will lose their Certificate if the court rule in favour of the plaintiff.

UTAG local President urged the law maker of Efuttu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to seek education on University management before he act, arguing that the decision of Governing Council’s of the University extends to affect everyone.

Meanwhile The law maker of Efuttu Constituency said,he will continue to seek justice over the impasse.

UTAG application to join the law suit was not upheld.

The Winneba High Court presided over by Justice George Mills - Groves has adjourned the civil law suite filled by Supi Kofi Kwayera challenging the legality of the Governing Council of the University of Education Winneba, to July 10, 2017.

This follows the plead by the lawyer of the respondent Peter Zwennes, that court should dismiss the case on the grounds that the High Court has limited jurisdiction to rule on the case.

Lawyer Zwennes added that the plaintiff does not have the capacity to seek such reliefs claiming he is seeking personal gain in lieu of public interest.

But the lawyer of the plaintiff Alexander Afenyo-Markin said their application has been misconstrue by the respondent because the plaintiff is only seeking the court intervention on the implementation of some Sections of the Constitution.

He added that the plaintiff is seeking to exercise his rights and duties to protect the public property under 1992 constitution.

Background

The former Assembly member of Donkonyiemu electoral area Supi Kofi Kwayera, last month sued the University of Education Winneba (UEW) and the Ministry of Education over unlawful extension of the University's Governing Council’s tenure as well as funds misappropriation after its two tenures expired in 2013.

The plaintiff, represented by Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency, where the University is located, Afenyo-Markin, had his reliefs upheld by the court, pending the determination of the case on Friday June 16, 2017.

University Authorities on June 13, closed down its campuses at Winneba, Kumasi, Ajumako and Mampong-Ashanti over court ruling that some actions taken by the University's council was illegal.

The Registrar said the closure was auspicious pending the hearing of substantive case on June 16, 2017.