Tension is rising on the campus of the University of Education, Winneba as lecturers have been threatened by the acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Rev. Prof. Anthony Afful Broni to terminate the contracts of striking lecturers.
University of Education, Winneba lecturers have been on strike since July after a Winneba High Court ordered the Vice Chancellor and the Chief Finance Officer to handover to the Pro Vice Chancellor pending a final determination of a suit filed by one Supi Kofi Kwayera challenging the legitimacy of the Vice Chancellor and the Chief Finance Officer.
The orders were part of the reliefs granted for the interlocutory injunction sought by the plaintiff, Supi Kofi Kwayera, in the case brought against the University which insisted that the Vice Chancellor and the Finance Officer were operating under the institution’s defunct governing council.
In an exclusive interview with Ghanacrusader.com, on the latest development the local UTAG president of UEW, Dr. Samuel Bekoe accused the acting vice chancellor, Rev. Prof Anthony Afful Broni of adopting intimidating strategies to compel lecturers to return to the lecture halls.
According to Dr. Bekoi, the Ag. VC has circulated a memo threatening to dismiss lecturers who do not attend classes.
He further revealed that the Ag. VC have instructed course reps of the various faculties to present to his outfit the names of lecturers who misses out on their various periods, coupled with his daily tour of the lecture halls.
‘’ From Monday we found the pro Vice chancellor going round lecture rooms and we find that very surprising because it has never happened before. He is also using other people to go round the offices telling lecturers that there is a clause in the status that states that if a lecturer doesn’t teach the lecturer should be dismissed, so he is going to evoke that clause on lecturers who refused to teach.
‘’In his rounds he also told the class reps of the various departments to keep attendance of lecturers who will come to teach.’’ He lamented.
Dr. Bekoe has however asked the striking lecturers not to feel intimidated by the threats of the Ag. Vice Chancellor as there is no such clause that gives him the powers to terminate contracts of lecturers who have embarked on a legitimate strike.
‘’we are assuring our members that there is no such clause in the university’s statutes and secondly this is a union decision that has the backing of the National Association. Per the labor Act we have every right to go on strike and no one can use intimidation against us.’’ He stated.
In a statement UTAG stated that the strike action will commence from the 18th of September, 2017 till further notice.
Source: GHANACRUSADER
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