UEW lecturers embark on strike over court order asking VC to step aside
Lecturers of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) have withdrawn all their services indefinitely after a Winneba High Court ordered the Vice Chancellor,Professor Mawutor Avoke and the Chief Finance Officer to hand over to the Pro-Vice Chancellor.
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According to the UEW branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), per the court order on Friday, they have been put in a confused state and cannot continue to work.
Dr Samuel Bekoe, the President of the UEW branch of UTAG told journalists the association find it worrying that about 95 of their members were newly appointed under the governing council which is being challenged in court.
He said about 62 have been promoted as senior lecturers, associate professors and senior professors and that all those positions would be affected by the court's ruling putting their employment and livelihoods in jeopardy.
Dr Bekoe said the association could not fathom how the university had allowed one who was not a contributor to hold the university community to ransom.
"When will they have to apply and at what positions would they apply for these positions," he queried saying the confusion was the reason for the strike.”
Dr Bekoe said the national executive of UTAG was in support of their action.
Read also: Court throws out UEW's motion challenging capacity of plaintiff
The Suit
The Winneba High Court on Friday asked the two principal officers to cease holding themselves as such as per a suit filed by Supi Kofi Kwayera questioning the legality of the university's Governing Council.
The suit is seeking a dissolution of the University’s Governing Council and, in effect, render the positions of Vice Chancellor and Chief Finance Officer vacant.
The Presiding Judge, Mr Justice William Ato Mills-Graves, granted the plea of the plaintiffs and ordered the two officers to step aside.
But the lecturers say they are confused about their future with the university.
Dr Bekoe said even the Pro-Vice Chancellor cannot perform his duties as the university’s regulations enjoin only the VC to appoint the Pro-Vice Chancellor.
He said the UTAG branch would meet with the national executives this week and decide on way forward.