Most of the 7,000 students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) appeared stranded yesterday by the 4.00 p.m deadline given them by the authorities to vacate the university.
The students had been given that deadline following the decision by the authorities to close down the school, which was announced to the students on Tuesday, the same day they were to comply.
However, by the time the announcement got to the students to vacate the campuses, most of them said the Metro Mass Transit buses which was their main form of transport, and which they often booked in advance, had already left.
The most affected were the female students who occupied the 2,000-capacity hostel on campus.
The Dean of Students, Rev Prof. Abraham Berinyu, in a telephone interview told the Daily Graphic that the decision to close down the school was as a result of the rising insecurity, disruption of academic activities as well as a court action taken by the suspended student leaders.
Rev Prof. Berinyu said even though students, on the basis of a directive by the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo, resumed lectures last Thursday, February 19, 2009, academic activities were disrupted by some people, who described themselves as NUGS executive members from Accra and who said they wanted to meet the Dean, to discuss the impasse between the leadership of the students and the school authorities.
He said the action of the university authorities was not to punish anybody but to instil discipline.
Responding to a question as to what he meant by insecurity on campus, since the students had not indulged in any acts of violence and had so far used appropriate channels to sought redress, Rev Prof. Beyirinyu said the authorities had no choice but to take such a decision.
Asked if the university authorities were not flouting the decision of the Education Minister that the university must not be closed down pending the constitution of a three-member committee to investigate the matter, the Dean of Students said the setting up of the committee was not on condition that the students went back to the lecture halls.
Meanwhile many of the students who spoke to the Daily Graphic said the action of the university authorities beat their imagination because they had used all legitimate means to reach an amicable settlement of the impasse.
They reiterated their call on the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Members of Parliament from the Upper West Region and the Association of Vice Chancellors of Ghana to step in to bring the issue to its conclusion once and for all.
It would be recalled that academic work has not been very smooth at the Wa campus of the UDS ever since the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kaku Sagary Nokoe, suspended the central Students Representative Council (SRC) President, Mr Alphonse Naab, and the NUGS Secretary, Mr Owusu Aboagye.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
YOUTH GROUPS ROOT FOR VIVIAN ASSIBI AS DCE (PAGE 15)
A number of youth groups from the Lawra and Nandom traditional areas have called on President J.E.A. Mills to give real meaning to his promise to give more women the chance to work in his government, by nominating Miss Bangu-Ekellah Vivian Assibi as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Lawra.
The group, who described themselves as the progressive youth of Lawra and Nandom, in a statement made available to the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the men had had their turn as far as governance of the Lawra District was concerned.
They said it was now time for a woman to be given the opportunity and this could only be achieved if President Mills reinforced his promises for the women of the country.
The group said being multilingual especially in the francophone language, Miss Banguu-Ekellah Vivian Assibi stood the chance of building very healthy sister relations with neighbouring Burkina Faso.
“As a true daughter who is very committed to the development of Nandom and Lawra, we are very much convinced that Miss Banguu-Ekellah is the right choice for the position of the DCE for Lawra”, the group stated, and expressed the hope that President Mills would heed their request.
The group further described Miss Banguu-Ekellah as a crowd puller, down to earth and one who was very much committed to the development of the Lawra District.
The group, who described themselves as the progressive youth of Lawra and Nandom, in a statement made available to the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the men had had their turn as far as governance of the Lawra District was concerned.
They said it was now time for a woman to be given the opportunity and this could only be achieved if President Mills reinforced his promises for the women of the country.
The group said being multilingual especially in the francophone language, Miss Banguu-Ekellah Vivian Assibi stood the chance of building very healthy sister relations with neighbouring Burkina Faso.
“As a true daughter who is very committed to the development of Nandom and Lawra, we are very much convinced that Miss Banguu-Ekellah is the right choice for the position of the DCE for Lawra”, the group stated, and expressed the hope that President Mills would heed their request.
The group further described Miss Banguu-Ekellah as a crowd puller, down to earth and one who was very much committed to the development of the Lawra District.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
UDS STUDENTS RESUME LECTURES (PAGE 15)
Students of the University for Development Studies (UDS) resumed lectures last Thursday after boycotting lectures for barely two weeks in solidarity with their suspended Central Students Representative Council (SRC) President, Mr Alphonse Naab and the NUGS secretary, Mr Owusu Aboagye.
The decision to go back to the lecture halls came on the heels of a directive by the Minster of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, that the students rescind their decision and resume lectures whiles his outfit consults with other parties in the impasse and endeavour to resolve the issue amicably.
This directive is based on the outcome of a meeting between Mr. Tettey-Enyo and a three-member delegation of the general assembly of the SRC last Tuesday in Accra.
The three-member delegation also met with the Director in Charge of Tertiary Education, the Chief of Staff, Mr Martey Newman and the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin.
Meanwhile investigations by the Daily Graphic revealed that the Minister of Education, Mr Tettey-Enyo is in the process of sending a fact finding delegation to the Wa campus of the UDS to meet two suspended SRC leaders as well as the dean of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies (FIDS) as part of efforts to settle the matter.
Students of the Wa campus of the UDS, on February 9, 2009 went on a peaceful demonstration to drive home their concerns about the suspension of their Central SRC President, Mr Alphonse Naab and the NUGS Secretary, Mr Owusu Aboagye, by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Koku Sagary Noloe for allegedly misconducting themselves.
The decision to go back to the lecture halls came on the heels of a directive by the Minster of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, that the students rescind their decision and resume lectures whiles his outfit consults with other parties in the impasse and endeavour to resolve the issue amicably.
This directive is based on the outcome of a meeting between Mr. Tettey-Enyo and a three-member delegation of the general assembly of the SRC last Tuesday in Accra.
The three-member delegation also met with the Director in Charge of Tertiary Education, the Chief of Staff, Mr Martey Newman and the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin.
Meanwhile investigations by the Daily Graphic revealed that the Minister of Education, Mr Tettey-Enyo is in the process of sending a fact finding delegation to the Wa campus of the UDS to meet two suspended SRC leaders as well as the dean of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies (FIDS) as part of efforts to settle the matter.
Students of the Wa campus of the UDS, on February 9, 2009 went on a peaceful demonstration to drive home their concerns about the suspension of their Central SRC President, Mr Alphonse Naab and the NUGS Secretary, Mr Owusu Aboagye, by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Koku Sagary Noloe for allegedly misconducting themselves.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
MP'S DEATH SHOCKS JIRAPA (PAGE 15)
RESIDENTS of Jirapa have received the news of the death of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Edward Salia, with a heavy heart.
Generally, even though majority of them admitted that they were aware of the deteriorating health of the former MP, they also expressed shock at the turn of events.
When the Daily Graphic visited the town yesterday, the town was very quiet and people were spotted in groups discussing the death of the MP, his successor or the National Democratic Congress (NDC). There were those who also tried to forecast how the next by-election was going to be like.
The Jirapa District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Justin Dakora, when contacted, said the death of the late MP was a sad news to the whole of Jirapa.
Madam Pauline Dassah, who many described as a die-hard NDC follower, expressed regret at the loss of the MP but prayed that his soul would rest in peace.
She described the late MP as a very hardworking politician who worked tirelessly to bring honours to Jirapa.
Mr Charles Mornah said the late MP had for sometime now been battling with ailments until his death.
He said he had done a lot for the region and the Jirapa Constituency and those accomplishments could not go without mention.
Generally, even though majority of them admitted that they were aware of the deteriorating health of the former MP, they also expressed shock at the turn of events.
When the Daily Graphic visited the town yesterday, the town was very quiet and people were spotted in groups discussing the death of the MP, his successor or the National Democratic Congress (NDC). There were those who also tried to forecast how the next by-election was going to be like.
The Jirapa District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Justin Dakora, when contacted, said the death of the late MP was a sad news to the whole of Jirapa.
Madam Pauline Dassah, who many described as a die-hard NDC follower, expressed regret at the loss of the MP but prayed that his soul would rest in peace.
She described the late MP as a very hardworking politician who worked tirelessly to bring honours to Jirapa.
Mr Charles Mornah said the late MP had for sometime now been battling with ailments until his death.
He said he had done a lot for the region and the Jirapa Constituency and those accomplishments could not go without mention.
Friday, February 13, 2009
UDS STUDENTS CONTINUE TO BOYCOTT LECTURES (PAGE 11)
STUDENTS of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) continue to boycott lectures in solidarity with their suspended central Students Representative Council (SRC) President, Mr Alphonse Naab and the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) Secretary, Mr Owusu Aboagye.
The boycott followed a five-hour protest by the students last Monday through the principal streets of the Wa Municipality to register their disapproval of actions of the university authorities.
Many people in the municipality thought the march was a pre-Valentine Day celebration by the students as they were all clad in red until they saw them carrying placards some of which read “UDS authorities stop developing your pockets”, “VC must go”, “We want Naab” and “UDS we need proper libraries and not book corners”.
Led by their central Vice SRC Secretary, Mr Ignatius Akubire Awaafo, the students marched, chanted and danced from the central administration of the university through the principal streets of Wa to the offices of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council where they presented their petition to the President of the Republic, Prof. J. E. A. Mills.
They expressed their disappointment and dismay at the action of the acting Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Prof. Sagary Nokoe, describing it as illegitimate, autocratic and unconstitutional.
The petition recalled events that led to the suspension of Mr Naab and Mr Aboagye, saying, “By the petition dated October 15, 2008 and which was copied to the VC, the student leaders were only asking for a mitigation of the problems confronting UDS students.”
It was therefore pathetic for the management of the university to suspend students’ leaders when they asked for what was due the entire student body, the petition stated.
Students kept paying money under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), but they were yet to enjoy the service, while there was no computer laboratory and lecture halls, public address systems, among other facilities, it added.
The petition said the decision by the leadership of the SRC to demand certain facilities for the students was in the right direction as they hit the nail right on the head.
“We have used all internal measures to see to an amicable solution to the impasse and to see to the revocation of the suspension of these student leaders but to no avail hence the decision to embark on this demonstration,” the petition explained.
We, therefore, appeal to President Mills to quickly intervene to help in the reinstatement of the two suspended SRC leaders, the petition stated.
Mr Awaafo announced that the students were boycotting lectures from Wednesday until they had heard from the President, stressing that they would proceed to the court of law if they did not receive any response.
The Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, who received the petition on behalf of the President, commended the students for going about their demonstration peacefully and promised to forward their concerns to President Mills.
Meanwhile, some of the students who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed disappointment at how such a trivial issue could be allowed to degenerate to the point of disrupting academic activities.
The students have, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders in education, particularly the committee of Vice Chancellors of Ghana, to prevail on their colleague, Prof. Nokoe, to resolve the issue amicably by reinstating the two students to ensure peace.
The boycott followed a five-hour protest by the students last Monday through the principal streets of the Wa Municipality to register their disapproval of actions of the university authorities.
Many people in the municipality thought the march was a pre-Valentine Day celebration by the students as they were all clad in red until they saw them carrying placards some of which read “UDS authorities stop developing your pockets”, “VC must go”, “We want Naab” and “UDS we need proper libraries and not book corners”.
Led by their central Vice SRC Secretary, Mr Ignatius Akubire Awaafo, the students marched, chanted and danced from the central administration of the university through the principal streets of Wa to the offices of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council where they presented their petition to the President of the Republic, Prof. J. E. A. Mills.
They expressed their disappointment and dismay at the action of the acting Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Prof. Sagary Nokoe, describing it as illegitimate, autocratic and unconstitutional.
The petition recalled events that led to the suspension of Mr Naab and Mr Aboagye, saying, “By the petition dated October 15, 2008 and which was copied to the VC, the student leaders were only asking for a mitigation of the problems confronting UDS students.”
It was therefore pathetic for the management of the university to suspend students’ leaders when they asked for what was due the entire student body, the petition stated.
Students kept paying money under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), but they were yet to enjoy the service, while there was no computer laboratory and lecture halls, public address systems, among other facilities, it added.
The petition said the decision by the leadership of the SRC to demand certain facilities for the students was in the right direction as they hit the nail right on the head.
“We have used all internal measures to see to an amicable solution to the impasse and to see to the revocation of the suspension of these student leaders but to no avail hence the decision to embark on this demonstration,” the petition explained.
We, therefore, appeal to President Mills to quickly intervene to help in the reinstatement of the two suspended SRC leaders, the petition stated.
Mr Awaafo announced that the students were boycotting lectures from Wednesday until they had heard from the President, stressing that they would proceed to the court of law if they did not receive any response.
The Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, who received the petition on behalf of the President, commended the students for going about their demonstration peacefully and promised to forward their concerns to President Mills.
Meanwhile, some of the students who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed disappointment at how such a trivial issue could be allowed to degenerate to the point of disrupting academic activities.
The students have, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders in education, particularly the committee of Vice Chancellors of Ghana, to prevail on their colleague, Prof. Nokoe, to resolve the issue amicably by reinstating the two students to ensure peace.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
WA UDS STUDENTS PROTEST (PAGE 34)
STUDENTS of the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) on Tuesday boycotted lectures and took to the streets in a five-hour demonstration in support of the suspended president and secretary of the central Students Representative Council (SRC).
The suspended executive members are Mr Alphonse Naab, SRC president, and Mr Owusu Aboagye, the NUGS secretary.
With the hundreds of students all clad in red, many people in the municipality initially thought the march was a pre-Valentine’s Day celebration, until they saw the placards, some of which read, “UDS authorities, stop developing your pockets”, “VC must go”, “We want Naab” and “UDS, we need proper libraries and not book corners”.
The students, led by the central SRC Vice Secretary, Mr Ignatius Akubire Awaafo, marched, chanted and danced, amidst heavy security, from the central administration of the university through the principal streets of Wa to the offices of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council, where they presented their petition, which was addressed to the President of the Republic, Prof. J.E. A Mills.
The students, in the petition, expressed their disappointment and dismay at the action of the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sagary Nokoe, describing it as illegitimate, autocratic and unconstitutional.
It recalled events that led to the suspension of Mr Naab and Mr Owusu Aboagye, saying, “By the petition dated October 15, 2008 and which was copied to the VC, the student leaders were only asking for a mitigation of the problems confronting UDS students.
It is, therefore, pathetic that when students’ leaders ask for what is due the entire students’ body all that the management of the university could do is to suspend such leaders.
“Students keep paying money under the NHIS but they are yet to enjoy the service, lecture halls lacked public address systems and computer laboratory, among other facilities,” it noted.
It further stated that the decision by the leadership of the SRC to demand certain facilities for the students was in the right direction as they hit the nail right on the head.
We have used all internal measures to see to an amicable solution to the impasse and to see to the revocation of the suspension of these students’ leaders but to no avail hence the decision to embark on this demonstration.
“We, therefore, appeal to President J. E. A. Mills, to quickly intervene and help in the reinstatement of the two suspended SRC leaders.”
To this end, Mr Akubire Awaafo announced that the students were boycotting lectures from Tuesday, until they heard from the President, stressing that they would proceed to the court of law if they did not receive any positive response.
The Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, who received the petition on behalf of the President, commended the students for going about the demonstration peacefully and promised to forward their concerns to President Mills.
The suspended executive members are Mr Alphonse Naab, SRC president, and Mr Owusu Aboagye, the NUGS secretary.
With the hundreds of students all clad in red, many people in the municipality initially thought the march was a pre-Valentine’s Day celebration, until they saw the placards, some of which read, “UDS authorities, stop developing your pockets”, “VC must go”, “We want Naab” and “UDS, we need proper libraries and not book corners”.
The students, led by the central SRC Vice Secretary, Mr Ignatius Akubire Awaafo, marched, chanted and danced, amidst heavy security, from the central administration of the university through the principal streets of Wa to the offices of the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council, where they presented their petition, which was addressed to the President of the Republic, Prof. J.E. A Mills.
The students, in the petition, expressed their disappointment and dismay at the action of the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sagary Nokoe, describing it as illegitimate, autocratic and unconstitutional.
It recalled events that led to the suspension of Mr Naab and Mr Owusu Aboagye, saying, “By the petition dated October 15, 2008 and which was copied to the VC, the student leaders were only asking for a mitigation of the problems confronting UDS students.
It is, therefore, pathetic that when students’ leaders ask for what is due the entire students’ body all that the management of the university could do is to suspend such leaders.
“Students keep paying money under the NHIS but they are yet to enjoy the service, lecture halls lacked public address systems and computer laboratory, among other facilities,” it noted.
It further stated that the decision by the leadership of the SRC to demand certain facilities for the students was in the right direction as they hit the nail right on the head.
We have used all internal measures to see to an amicable solution to the impasse and to see to the revocation of the suspension of these students’ leaders but to no avail hence the decision to embark on this demonstration.
“We, therefore, appeal to President J. E. A. Mills, to quickly intervene and help in the reinstatement of the two suspended SRC leaders.”
To this end, Mr Akubire Awaafo announced that the students were boycotting lectures from Tuesday, until they heard from the President, stressing that they would proceed to the court of law if they did not receive any positive response.
The Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, who received the petition on behalf of the President, commended the students for going about the demonstration peacefully and promised to forward their concerns to President Mills.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
GHANA MUST OVERCOME POLITICAL POLARISATION (PAGE 14)
The Upper West Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Kofi Adomah, has expressed concern about the polarised nature of the country’s politics and said “ We have to overcome such political polarisation if indeed we want to develop”.
He observed that in situations where others from different political divides saw everything a government in power did to be wrong or demonise it, the country would not achieve it development objectives.
Mr Adomah, who expressed these concerns in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, recalled Ghana’s independence era and that of Malaysia and reiterated that “we keep saying Malaysia came collect palm nut seedlings from Ghana after their independence but now they are far ahead of us”.
This, he said, was because, Ghanaian politicians have failed to see national programmes and projects initiated by previous government.
By so doing, Mr Adomah said, the country cannot be on the right path to development.
He pointed out that the NCCE was working very hard to change this perception by intensifying its training for political party leaders from the national, regional and district levels.
“Training of political party executives would foster unity among them and this would trickle down to the ordinary supporters to also see each other as brother or sister”, he added.
The NCCE director further stressed the need for people in authority to endeavour to integrate into their activities people of the opposite divide and called for a total change from the present winner-takes-all system while encouraging the practice of all inclusiveness to harmonise the unity in the country.
Touching on some of the difficulties confronting the NCCE in the region, Mr Adomah said lack of vehicles, particularly in seven other district offices was hampering the effectiveness of civic education in the region.
He observed that in situations where others from different political divides saw everything a government in power did to be wrong or demonise it, the country would not achieve it development objectives.
Mr Adomah, who expressed these concerns in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, recalled Ghana’s independence era and that of Malaysia and reiterated that “we keep saying Malaysia came collect palm nut seedlings from Ghana after their independence but now they are far ahead of us”.
This, he said, was because, Ghanaian politicians have failed to see national programmes and projects initiated by previous government.
By so doing, Mr Adomah said, the country cannot be on the right path to development.
He pointed out that the NCCE was working very hard to change this perception by intensifying its training for political party leaders from the national, regional and district levels.
“Training of political party executives would foster unity among them and this would trickle down to the ordinary supporters to also see each other as brother or sister”, he added.
The NCCE director further stressed the need for people in authority to endeavour to integrate into their activities people of the opposite divide and called for a total change from the present winner-takes-all system while encouraging the practice of all inclusiveness to harmonise the unity in the country.
Touching on some of the difficulties confronting the NCCE in the region, Mr Adomah said lack of vehicles, particularly in seven other district offices was hampering the effectiveness of civic education in the region.
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