Confusion over new university

Inauguration of "Golden State University" was on Wednesday thrown into confusion as workers of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) at Weija Headwork held the police and invited guests "hostage" for 45 minutes.

The workers locked the gate to the company's yard, and exchanged words with the police till the police went back, brought reinforcement and broke the lock to the gate and entered the yard.

They protested against the GWCL Training School located inside the company's yard being sold to a private investor for the establishment of the proposed university. The workers said it was their management who asked them not to allow anybody to enter the yard.

In the process two of the workers one of whom threatened to burn the School were beaten and arrested by the police after about 20 personnel of the Police Striking Force Unit from the Accra Central Police were called in.

The police under the command of Deputy Superintendent Helena Cobbinah of the Odorkor Police told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that President John Agyekum Kufuor was to attend the inaugural ceremony of the university hence the police presence at the place.

Some of the workers told the GNA that they were not aware of the commissioning of any University within the yard. "Besides, the only school where most of us have been trained over the years in water treatment processes."

"The truth of the matter is that government wanted to sell it to one Dr. Ross Opoku Agyemang, a private man, which we are opposed to." "If government want to build a university she should go to Kasoa or McCarthy Hill there are so many lands there, why the training school, which is so close to the Headwork and the Lake," the workers said.

Appiah Mensah, Station Manger at the place denied knowledge of the commissioning of the University and said he was not the Principal of the Training School, hence he cannot comment on it.

He, however, said he never asked the workers to stop vehicles from entering the yard. Owusu Prempeh, Principal of the Training School on his part said, he was also not aware of any commissioning but alleged that he knew of some attempts to sell the premises.

When the GNA accompanied the police to the training school at about 1200 noon there was no indication of a function except the presence of Mr Prempeh who said he was just informed about the incidence.

He also said officials at the head office of the Ghana Water Company have also not been informed. Pupils in the area who lined up as early as 0800 hours expecting to catch a glimpse of the President, were disappointed when they were told to go back to their schools