Former President Jerry John Rawlings has commended the government for their prompt intervention by laying a roadmap for the peaceful resolution of the recent impasse in what he described as “social injustice and violation of the rights of some University of Education, Winneba staff by the Abeka led council”.
He said “From the records of EOCO and other state agencies the affected individuals were exonerated as there was no evidence of misconduct established against them. Ironically the current Vice-Chancellor who was indicted in the same report remains at post.
The Former President, who was the architect of the June 4, 1979, and 1981 revolutions made these remarks at a durbar to mark the 38th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution in Winneba.
Mr. Rawlings said “Notwithstanding the effort of government towards immediate resolution, no significant progress has been made after more than three months. More than 20 dismissed staff at the UEW is going through discontent and pain. I hope this important matter is given the urgency and attention that is required.”
“I understand there are investigations ongoing regarding the current Vice-Chancellor. It will be appropriate for the Council to request that he steps aside for fairness to prevail as has been the practice with other similar circumstances in the past, he added”.
Recently, Former President Jerry John Rawlings petitioned the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah to intervene in what he calls injustice perpetrated at the university.
His petition follows months of unresolved concerns between the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Afful Broni and his predecessor, Professor Mawutor Avoke.
The Winneba High Court in 2017 ordered Prof Avoke to step aside until a case brought against him and the University’s Governing Council was determined.
The Governing Council subsequently dismissed Avoke and replaced him with Prof. Afful-Broni.
Avoke, in November 2018, wrote a letter to the school’s Governing Council directing it to prepare the office of their client to enable him to resume following his supposed exoneration by the Supreme Court.
The lawyers also wanted the same accord to be extended to former Finance Officer of the University, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie.
Source: Kofi Atakora
