Minister appeals to Cape Vars lecturers to return to work

Cape Coast (Central Region) 11 Feb. '99

Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, has appealed to striking lecturers of the University of Cape Coast to come out with realistic proposals and demands that would help solve the current impasse. " The interest of the nation should over-ride personal interest", he told a meeting of the UCC branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in Cape Coast yesterday. Mr Spio-Garbrah pointed out that there has been some form of laxity in the administration of the country's universities, but was quick to add that the lecturers should not inflame passions and imply too rigid decisions on the issue. He said positive strategies should be adopted to enforce law and order on the campus, adding that energy management and discipline are issues of national concern. There has been some unrest on the UCC campus following a quit order to 13 students at the Valco Hall by the Hall Counsellor, Dr. K.S. Asamoah, for using fridges. The rest of the students, in solidarity with their affected colleagues were alleged to have demonstrated and attacked the hall counsellor's residence demanding his removal from the hall. Commenting on the issue, the University's registrar, Mr Kweku Konadu, expressed disappointment that members of UTAG ignored laid down structures and procedures of the university that would have helped to resolve the issue, and rather resorted to the strike action. He said despite the fact that the lecturers' demands to have the affected students punished had been accepted by the executive committee of the university, they still embarked on the strike action. Mr Konadu said residential issues should not affect academic work. Earlier, the students, wearing red dresses, head and arm bands, and wielding tree branches, stormed the academic chamber where the Minister and the UTAG were holding the meeting.. They were addressed by the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor K.S. Boafo who appealed to them to remain calm after which they then dispersed.