GNUPS has no legal mandate

Takoradi, June 27, GNA- The Takoradi Polytechnic Council has said that the Ghana National Union of polytechnic students (GNUPS), has no legal mandate to call for the resignation of Doctor Samuel Obeng-Apori, the principal of Takoradi Polytechnic.

These were contained in speech read by Mr. Jones Addai-Marfo, Secretary of the Council and the Polytechnic at a press conference at Takoradi on Monday.

The press conference was meant to explain circumstances that led to the closure and re-opening of the Polytechnic.

He said the GNUPS though a mouthpiece of the 10 polytechnics in Ghana was not a recognised entity under the Polytechnic Law and statues. Mr. Addai-Marfo said the Students Representative Council (SRC) did not invite the GNUPS before it issued the statement on May 29 this year. "Technically, members of GNUPS are not students of the polytechnic and should not prevent Takoradi polytechnic students from writing their end of semester examinations" he added.

He said GNUPS "did not get all the facts from authentic sources and most of their demands were either unnecessary and some could not be met".

Mr. Addai-Marfo explained that the Council held three meetings with members of GNUPS between June 11 and 19 this year, received their petition and tried to find an amicable solution to the crisis. "There was nothing incriminating the Principal to resign and the Council has mandated him to continue his duty in accordance with the Council's policy directives, the Polytechnic Law and statues," he added.

Mr. Addai-Marfo said the GNUPS must recognise the Takoradi Polytechnic SRC and work through them, adding that there was a cordial relationship between the SRC and school management.

He stressed that the Council would improve information flow between it and other interested parties including students of the school. Mr. Addai-Marfo added that all SRC funds would be transferred into their various accounts but stressed that neither the Council nor the school management had fixed any fees as it was being alleged. Mr. Stephen H. Ocran, legal advisor of the school said most of the petition of GNUPS were false and lacked merit.

He said the Polytechnic statutes and the procurement act, allows students to serve on the Residence, Library, Tender, Finance, Security, Public Relations and Information, Sports and other committees and not on the academic board as was being demanded by GNUPS. He said over 95 percent of the examination results had already been published by the school and it was not true that the results were outstanding.

Mr. Anthony Bassaw, Vice Principal of the school said the GNUPS does not have the power to ask the principal to resign and no one should circumvent laid down procedures in handling issues. "GNUPS should have apologised to the Council for circumventing laid down procedures and ignoring the tenets of law and order", he added. Mr. Bassaw said to ensure law and order and for the smooth conduct of examinations, some policemen would be present at the Takoradi Polytechnic Campus.

He assured the students that the Police presence was not meant to intimidate them but to provide them with security. He said the school would re-open on July 3 while the second semester examinations would be conducted on July 9. He therefore appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that their wards return to the school. 27 June 07