The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Effutu Constituency, Dr. James Kofi Annan, has decried the high level of political influence in the affairs of the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW) which he says is hampering the progress of the university.
He made the assertion when he met with senior lecturers and other staff of UEW to sell to them his personal policies for the constituency, as well as those of the National Democratic Congress, in his quest to secure their votes.
Kofi Annan decried the state of affairs at the university, attributing its myriad of litigation cases and disunity among both senior and junior staff to political influence by the incumbent Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo Markin.
In recent history, the university faced great turmoil following the ousting of a then-serving Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke, which sparked student demonstrations on campus.
He was, however, reinstated after about three years, but only to serve for just four months to officially complete his mandated period of service.
At the time he was being reinstated, it was widely speculated that there was a rift between the MP and then Vice Chancellor, Rev. Father Afful Broni, who succeeded the former after he was ousted.
James Kofi Annan suggests that top appointments, including the Vice Chancellor and several other positions at the university, are highly politicized, and pledges to depart from such practice when elected as Member of Parliament.
He pledges a development-focused leadership and promises to revive the local economy by investing some USD 100 million in the Winneba Central market to facilitate its redesigning.
Meanwhile, some senior lecturers of the university have resolved to resist any attempt to intimidate students and lecturers during this year’s elections, as it occurred in 2020, where some military personnel were allegedly commissioned to brutalize both lecturers and students on election day.
They have also raised concerns about the victimization of lecturers and students deemed to be members of the opposition NDC.
By: Akwasi Addo | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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