Delay in resolving Legon crisis - University Council to blame

Accra, Sept. 1, GNA - Since coming out with the story on the delay in resolving the crisis that hit the University of Ghana following irregularities during the 2004 November/December End-of-Semester Examinations, the Ghana News Agency has been inundated with e-mails, letters and telephone calls blaming the University Council and not the Committee for the delay.

The GNA had reported: "The Council of the University of Ghana is yet to resolve the crisis that hit the University following irregularities during the 2004 November/December End-of-Semester Examinations. "More than four months after the Council initiated moves to resolve the problem; the Committee it tasked to investigate the crisis is yet to submit its report.

"An Official at the University's Relations Office told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday that they could not tell when the Committee's Report would be ready.

"Please bear with us, we are equally anxious and as soon as it is ready, we will not hesitate and go public on it".

The Official said they did not want to pry into the Committee's work since it had to do with the integrity of some people.

He said it was for that reason that they thought the Committee should not be stampeded and be allowed to do its own thing without interference."

However, a plethora of e-mails, letters and telephone calls GNA has received said the Committee had completed its work.

"By the time I was leaving Ghana on Aug. 14, the report had been submitted at least one week. I have been here for at least two weeks", one of the e-mails said.

Another e-mail said: "Please continue to press the Legon authorities to release the report of the Disciplinary Committees. I think the haste with which the Mfodwo Report was leaked should match the haste with which these reports are released."

The Council of the University accepted the decision of some heads of the premier University to vacate their posts to facilitate the disciplinary proceedings on examination malpractices.

The Heads were Professor Emmanuel Ofori-Sarpong, Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Professor Kwasi Agyeman, Head of the Philosophy Department, Professor Clara Fayorsey, Head of the Sociology Department and Mr T. Tabi Director of Academic Affairs.

The decision was the outcome of a special meeting by the Council to discuss the Mfodwo Committee's Report on examination malpractices during the first semester of the 2004-2005 academic year.

In the unfolding drama the Council directed the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere to proceed on leave or get sacked. The Vice-Chancellor petitioned the Council and it later decided to give him "more time to react fully to the Council's observations after which, Council will reconvene on Thursday 26th May 2005 to conclude discussions" on his petition.

Prof. Asenso-Okyere in a statement issued on Tuesday May 31 also said he would be stepping aside with effect from June 8, 2005 until the Committees set up to deal with disciplinary issues raised by the Mfodwo Committee submitted its report and the University Council ratified their recommendations for appropriate action.

The Vice-Chancellor announced the following administrative arrangements: "Professor C.N.B. Tagoe, the Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, would act as Vice-Chancellor; Professor Anna Reynolds Barnes, Acting Provost of College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, would act as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, until further notice."

He appealed to the University community to cooperate with the officers in the discharge of their duties.

Prof Barnes has since gone on statutory retirement and Prof Kwesi Yankah has been made the Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor.