The University of Media, Arts, and Communication (UniMAC) is merging with two other universities, but the University Teachers Association of Ghana chapter of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (UTAG-GIJ) has threatened to leave the merger.

The merger of the GIJ, National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), and Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL) into UniMAC was formally announced in December of last year.

The actual place and address of UniMAC is the GIJ North Dzorwulu campus.

The merger deal’s sluggish progress and lack of transparency have angered UTAG-GIJ. After a crucial meeting, the association informed the students in a briefing that if the statutes weren’t addressed right once, they would have no choice but to “protest GIJ’s departure from the merger.”

“That the ultimate source of confusion and arbitrariness on the part of the UniMAC management is the lack of the UniMAC Statute, which will operationalize the Act. We are convinced that the merger cannot proceed without the Statute, hence we resolve to mount pressure on the Interim Council to attach much more seriousness to the enactment of the Statute to forestall the impending confusion and anxiety on our campuses as a result of the excesses of the UniMAC management. Failure to act swiftly on the Statutes will give us no option than to protest for GIJ’s withdrawal from the merger,” excerpts of the statement read.

The UTAG-GIJ further said “That we impress on government to release funds to run UniMAC and ease the burden on GIJ, which seems to be bearing the majority of, if not all, the cost associated with running the new university, and hasten the drafting of the UniMAC Statutes. Other demands include separation of GIJ funds from UniMAC funds, definition of the distinct roles of acting rector of GIJ, registrar and VC of UNIMAC as regards the running of GIJ, integrate UTAG-GIJ/UniMAC into the Interim Council and ultimately trigger actions towards amendment of portions of the UniMAC Act which threaten academic freedom, independence, and interest of staff.”

Below is the full document: 

622761241-Briefing-From-Utag-Gij-January-2023-Meeting-1

By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana