Student of University of Education, Winneba boycotts lectures

Some members of the Students Representative Council of the University of Education, Winneba are this morning protesting against the dismissal of some academic staff of university by the Vice Chancellor, Reverend Father Prof Anthony Afful-Broni, despite the intervention by Minister of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah. 

On Wednesday, some of the aggrieved students boycotted lectures increasing protests and unrest in the university campus.

Imoro Rafiu, a student told Accra-based Okay FM that until Dr. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, and others are recalled the demonstrations will still continue.

The Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah on Tuesday directed the University’s Governing Council to ensure that calm is restored on campus as soon as possible.

The directive comes on the back of protests by students over the dismissal of some senior staff of the school.

In a statement, the Minister said “ the issue that emerged between us in the interaction was for the Council to take whatever steps that are necessary to ensure that peace and harmony returns to campus within the shortest possible term to ensure that normal academic work resumes and that the students go back to school and the lecturers continue teaching if they have boycotted classes.”

Dr. Sarpong’s sacking

According to the Disciplinary Board findings in the letter terminating his appointment, Dr. Sarpong admitted walking out of a meeting with the chairman of the UEW governing council which “the Board considered as insubordination and thus misconduct.”

He is also said to have “cunningly orchestrated the posting of” letters inviting him “to appear before the Disciplinary Board to be circulated on social media, particularly on UEW Alumni WhatsApp page just to cause disaffection for the UEW Management.”

The disciplinary board said these actions, among others “amounted to grave misconduct.”

Dr Duku claims innocence

Dr. Frimpong Kakyire Duku, the President of the UEW branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) who was also dismissed maintained that he did no wrong to warrant his dismissal from the university.

Dr. Duku was dismissed by the university together with Professor Ephraim Avea Nsoh, the Principal of the College of Languages Education.