A group, calling itself the Observers Forum of the University of Ghana, has described as hasty, the decision of the University Council, which has brought untold hardships to the school, especially the students.
According to them, the Council has not offered anything good to the university, but is rather compounding the crisis.
“Their actions and decisions must contribute to mitigating the suffering and trauma that the students are going through in writing their examinations,” they suggested.
They therefore quizzed how they can take a decision without considering the outcome, and repercussions to students.
In an interview at The Chronicle office in Accra last Monday, the Spokesperson of the group, Nicholas Manu explained that the premature exit of the former director in charge of Academic Affairs, Mr Tabi, has contributed immensely to their plight and nightmare.
“We do not know when to write our papers, we write a paper without planning for it,” he lamented.
He cautioned that if the University Council cannot act in a manner that will alleviate the fears and sufferings of students, in respect of how and when they can have an accurate and definite timetable to enable them plan for their examinations, no decision would satisfy their aspirations.
He noted that the Council’s decision on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. K. Asenso-Okyere, was occasioned by the alleged unfair treatment of the findings of the Mfodwo Committee.
According to him, the Vice Chancellor did not play any active role in the examinations leakages and therefore needs not resign, as some are demanding.
Manu stressed things have gone on well with the university during Asenso-Okyere’s term of office, adding that many students have benefited from some of his prudent measures as far as academic excellence is concerned.
Citing an example, he said the Vice-Chancellor introduced a grading mark of 1.5, and students who could not obtain that mark were sacked.
“We want to reiterate our earlier opinion that it was wrong and against natural justice to call for his resignation, because his adult son was involved in the examination leakage,” he intimated.
To him, his son was old enough to bear the consequences of his actions, as he has assured fairness and transparency, by allowing the committee to give his son whatever punishment was due him.
“If Asenso would interfere with the investigations of the Committee, he would have done that right from the onset,” Manu underscored.
According to him, the Forum believes that his son’s involvement does not amount to a conflict of interest, and that the Vice-Chancellor should remain in office, and discharge his duties as the chief executive officer of the university.
He pointed out that this would not be difficult, because the statutes of the university, forbid any university officer to sit on a committee on any case involving his or her family member.
Manu questioned what the Council’s position is, on Lecturers who marked their own children and relatives’ examination papers, if they offered their courses.
