Convener of the Concerned Staff of the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Professor George Kankam Snr., has revealed that the Governing Council Chairman, Nana Ofori Ansah I, is trying to plunge the university into chaos.

According to him, the governing Chairman must be dismissed from the university. With this, he accused the Governing Council Chairman of blatantly going against the tenets of the university.

Professor Kankam claimed that Nana Ofori Ansah I has been dabbling in double standards by attempting to nominate someone who was not shortlisted for the position of vice chancellor.

“Nana Ofori Ansah I’s council is trying to plunge the university into chaos… Nana Ofori Ansah I is pushing for Professor Stephen Mitchual to be the vice chancellor though he was not shortlisted. As a governing chair, are you not exhibiting double standards?”
Prof George Kankam Snr.

Professor Kankam iterated that Nana Ofori Ansah I is currently pursuing his own personal interests and not working in the best interests of the university.

Additionally, he noted that the association will send a letter to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, requesting for Nana Ofori Ansah I’s removal.

“When Nana Ofori Ansah I came, he openly told us that he did not have thorough knowledge about university management and administration. We thought that was even good for him to be frank about it. So we thought that having said that, he was going to learn. But that is not the case. We are asking for his removal…We are in the university, and we want UEW to be developed. We don’t want the university to be run for people’s personal interests.”
Prof George Kankam Snr

Concerns by staff of UEW

Earlier, contained in a statement, the Concerned Staff of the University of Education, Winneba, described the actions and inactions of the Chairman of the Governing Council, Nana Ofori Ansah I, as autocratic. It explained that coupled with his arbitrary disregard for laid down procedures in the running of the University, it has led to heightened tension in the University, which can “explode” at any moment.

To this end, the association appealed to President Akufo-Addo to immediately withdraw the appointment of Nana Ofori Ansah I as Council Chairman of the University. Additionally, the group urged the President to dissolve the Council.

Furthermore, the association complained about several happenings in the University which it said, if allowed to fester, would mar the peaceful atmosphere of the University.

Among other things, it stated that Nana Ofori Ansah I is being accused of “gross leadership weakness since he was sworn into office, nurturing uneasiness and further nursing and growing adequate plans to destabilize the peace of UEW”, and disregarding UEW Statutes and other laid down and established procedures.

“As clearly stated above, the call for the immediate dissolution of the UEW Governing Council and the subsequent dismissal of Nana Ofori Ansah 1 from office as Council Chairman of UEW is justified without doubt. He pursues his personal interest and the interests of other UEW saboteurs and saboteurs of Ghana at large at the expense of the entire UEW and Ghana as a whole. His continued stay in office as the Governing Council Chairman is a threat to the peace and stability of the University.”
Concerned Staff of the University of Education

Last year, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Education, Winneba, requested the Registrar, Paul Osei Barima, to proceed on leave. In a letter dated May 18, 2022, the Chairman appointed Mrs. Tete Mensah to act as Registrar.

Prior to the appointment of Mrs. Tete Mensah, the Council Chairman directed the Registrar to take all his accumulated leave. He stated in the letter to the Registrar that the leave takes effect from May 19, 2022, by which time the total number of days worked out by the Human Resource Division of the University would have been reached.

The directive by the Governing Council Chairman, according to the Registrar, was in sharp contrast with Section A of the Governing Council’s decision/policy on annual leave for principal officers and principals of colleges.