UCC Vice Chancellor, Chairman rift; Concerned UTAG members counter call for withdrawal of Council Chairman’s appointment

A group called concerned members of the University of Cape Coast UTAG has disassociated itself from a call for the withdrawal of the appointment of the Council Chairman.

According to the group, the call, which was without recourse to members of UTAG, sought to create the wrong impression that the entire Association was in support of such a call.

“We consistently find the posture of the UTAG UCC leadership undemocratic, dishonest and grossly disrespectful of its own
membership”.

The concerned UCC UTAG made the reservations in a  press release copied to gnewsprime.com.

According to the statement, the UTAG Executive on 1st August, 2024 cautioned the UCC Chairman of Council, his agents and assigns against any action on the renewal of the Vice-Chancellor’s appointment due to an impending injunction application.

However, in that same press statement, they made a judgment on the matter before the court;
they stated emphatically, “The claims that the renewal breaches the University’s Statutes and the Constitution are unfounded.”

The concerned UCC UTAG maintained that the statement was not only prejudicial but contemptuous, and should be of concern to all well-meaning
members of UTAG.

“Even in the face of an injunction order from the Cape Coast High Court restraining the Vice Chancellor from holding office, the
UTAG UCC Executive see nothing wrong with supporting a decision to allow the Vice-Chancellor to stay in office”, the statement underscored.

“Most impartial observers would conclude that these actions on the part of the local executive prevent or make it extremely difficult for the  Chairman to implement the principles of good governance, management accountability and rule of law”.

“This is all happening amidst concerns about the potential reversal of the extension of the
Vice-Chancellor’s term beyond his 60th birthday, which many have argued violates the laws of Ghana”.

The group noted that UTAG UCC Executive were quick to side with the Vice-Chancellor whenever there was criticism against the Chairman of Council for example, while ignoring issues related to their own members welfare.

“Indeed, some issues had already created a tense atmosphere on
campus long before the current Council was constituted”.

Some of these issues include: unilateral and illegal withholding of staff salaries, unlawful dismissal of a Senior Lecturer of the University,  perceived favouritism, perceived vindictiveness and objections to the potentially illegal extension of the Vice-Chancellor’s time in office.

The concerned UCC UTAG members assured the University community that attempts to subvert the laws of Ghana and the policies of the University will be resisted.

“Therefore, the press statement signed by the President and Secretary of UTAG UCC, which wrongly gives the impression
that the entire membership of UTAG UCC shares the view as stated in the press statement, should be disregarded and treated with utter contempt by all”.

Read the full statement here…

RESPONSE TO PRESS STATEMENT.docx