The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has described as a travesty and tragedy their exclusion from the newly constituted Governing Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The lecturers do not understand why the president of the Student’s Representative Council – a student – has been included on the council but no lecturer or management member of the university was made a member.
The old governing council was dissolved following a meeting with stakeholders after violent protests by students of the university on Monday.
RELATED STORY: Gov’t dissolves KNUST Governing Council
The new board is expected to investigate what led to protests and prescribe solutions in three months. The university is also expected to reopen in 14 days. The fate of the Vice-Chancellor will also be determined by the new council.
But the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kwasi Obiri Danso who has been accused by the students of mismanaging the school was not included in the new list.
The SRC president was, much to the disappointment of UTAG, who was also left out of the new council.
National President of the Association, Dr Eric Opoku Mensah on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Friday said “this is the most disappointing action taken by the government. We are appalled and surprised by what is happening,” and will not accept the decision lying down.
READ ALSO: Trader fined GH¢480 for pouring hot water on neighbour
“I do not think that it is fair to even dream of setting up a committee, setting the council aside and you put an SRC president who is a student for God’s sake to be on the council,” he added.
He said their non-representation of the lecturers and management body on the Council smacks of disrespect and unnecessarily empowers the students.
“Government decides that it is going to set up an interim management committee, puts the SRC president there forgets about other stakeholders and the Vice-Chancellor himself? This is surprising.