Administrators call for speedy resolution of Sunyani Polytechnic impasse
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In the view of PAAG, the fracas between the two parties was adversely affecting the reputation of the polytechnic.
On March 20, 2013, POTAG passed a resolution and raised a number of allegations against the registrar and subsequently gave the Polytechnic Council an ultimatum which stated in part that, ‘‘POTAG, therefore, gives the Governing Council of the Polytechnic up to the end of April 2013 to remove Mr S.A. Obour from office’’.
Subsequently, the council called for an emergency meeting to resolve the matter and set up a Mediation/Investigation Committee to investigate the allegations made by POTAG against the Registrar, to mediate between the two parties for an amicable resolution of the impasse, and also to look into any other related issues that would bring peace to the polytechnic and to make recommendations for the consideration of the council.
At its emergency meeting on April 23, 2013, PAAG deliberated on the current impasse and noted that the allegations leveled against the Registrar undermined the integrity of his office and ‘‘We humbly appeal to POTAG to present its evidence to the appropriate committee or body to substantiate the allegations raised in their resolution against the Registrar.’’
The 21 members of PAAG attending the meeting, in a petition they adopted and signed, also observed that the decision of POTAG to hang red flags on the campus as a means of addressing their grievances was creating uncomfortable atmosphere to those on campus, saying ‘‘We consider this as academic dishonesty if POTAG have not proved its case against the Registrar but rather try to publicise his removal.’’
The resolution copied to the Minister of Education, the National Council for Tertiary Education, the Regional Minister and the Rector of the Polytechnic, among other authorities stated further that, the decision of POTAG to refuse teaching and supervision/invigilation of examinations as a result of a court issue was unfortunate since their association matters ought not to affect students as they (students) had no role in the matter.
‘‘We the Sunyani Polytechnic branch of the Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana shall be most grateful if the Polytechnic Council, which is the governing body of the polytechnic, would use all possible means to make POTAG understand issues and act accordingly’’, the resolution concluded.
A five-member mediation committee to resolve the impasse between the Sunyani Polytechnic Branch of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) and the Registrar, Mr Samuel Ankamah Obour, last Monday, presented its report to the polytechnic governing council.
Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani.