Public University lecturers across the country have declared an indefinite strike to protest the court ruling against the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba(UEW).
The court ruling which asked the Vice-chancellor to step aside has been described by the University Teachers Association of Ghana(UTAG) as an attack on academic freedom. They add on that the imposition of an acting vice-chancellor on the University of Education, Winneba, is against the University's Act and Statutes.
A Winneba High court in July ordered the Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Professor Mawutor Avokeh, to step aside until a case brought against him and the University’s Governing Council was determined. The order also affected the institution’s Finance Officer.
The court order was the result of a suit filed by one Supi Kofi Kwayera who insisted that the Vice Chancellor and the Finance Officer were operating under the institution’s non-operational Governing Council.
Mr. Kwayera presented that the University Council’s mandate had expired in November 2013, but the Education Ministry failed to constitute a new Governing Council for the university, and rather allowed and permitted the defunct Governing Council which had no mandate whatsoever to continue the functions of a properly constituted Governing Council as if same had been properly constituted.
He insisted the move was unlawful and therefore took legal action against the University of Education, Winneba.
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"It is our firm belief that the issue at the UEW is an attack on academic freedom and thus affects all public universities in Ghana", a statement by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG claimed.
President of UTAG, Dr. Harry Agbanu said the strike is necessary because the group suspects that the management of UEW is being manipulated.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellors Ghana has invited UTAG executives to a meeting on Monday to discuss the matter and find a common ground.
UTAG has given a one-week ultimatum to all stakeholders to resolve the matter, adding it will review its position at an upcoming Congress scheduled for Friday, September 22, 2017.
Read also:  Vice Chancellor of UEW ordered to step aside by court
 Akufo Addo charges UEW council to resolve court disputes swiftly
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