Image source: Albert chime
Read this thoroughly and you will see the factions in the University of Ghana.
The author implores the readers to read this article with an independent mind and unbiased lenses, and it will be clear as to why even the Commonwealth Hall Annex Project is being sabotaged underneath. I will later again prove to you why the ongoing actions by the current Management of the University are the careful role out of the long-standing agenda to engineer a "feminist approach" by way of undermining the entire Commonwealth Hall “male voice” for the masses.
As for the students, unfortunately they didn't read in between the lines and some unknown students allegedly perpetrated certain acts that were eventually tagged as Vandals-Vikings clashes. These are not conspiracy theories. It's been engineered since 2009 and 2010, but the actors find it convenient to exact a harder hit at the Hall, using the said clashes as a smokescreen.
After Commonwealth Hall won the case against the University in 2010, (see attached 2) there were proposals for the University to amend its Statutes in 2011 to grant the Vice-Chancellor the automatic power to appoint Hall Masters and Senior Tutors for Halls of residence. This proposal was fiercely resisted by most of the Hall Masters of the Traditional Halls at the time, so it did not see the light of day. This same proposal was recommended by the Council on its 15th August 2022 press release point iv - "VC should appoint key officers of the Hall...".
Down memory lane, it would interest readers to know that Commonwealth Hall issued a spirited front with its Alumni together with other traditional Halls namely, Volta Hall, Legon Hall and Mensah Sarbah Hall, when this same agenda surfaced in the University Community in the early 1990s. Some of the Lecturers on campus declined such move to allow VC that ultimate power to fire or hire anyone from the University of Ghana. Even though that was resisted by many of the Lecturers, the Halls argued that the Governing Council of the Halls must appoint or an internal democratic election should be conducted to allow the appointment of a Hall Master and Senior Tutors. Others argued that the University of Ghana is a public institution and must be in accordance with the Labour laws of this Country (see amendments to the amended statutes in 2011, section 6).
Soon, most of Lecturers then in their mid-50s and 60s nearing their retirement became dormant in the affairs of the University. While others behind lobbied for contract extensions, others moved to other private Universities, and few got their wishes granted. Those aligned to the Tagoe, Adzei Bokoe and Akilapka Sawyerr Group were then victimized severely for the stance they took. Benneh Group were the neutralists. They were neither there nor here. The late Asenso-Okyere's Group were tagged as the pro-radicalists, who always stood for the interest of students and Lecturers in the face of Government. The latter’s “downfall” was through such same medium – his enthusiasm for students’ activism and interest of his Lecturers. He was soon tagged as anti-government.
Watch those who hail Prof. Gyampo in the media space today, criticizing government should know that, there were lot of students and Lecturers back in the days who always put pressure on societal issues for the right things to be done. Most of them earned their seats in the next government, others were appointed Board members among others. Remember, government still appoints the Chairman of the University of Ghana Council. (That will be discussed soon in next episode)
Remember, those aligned to Asenso-Okyere, Tagoe and Sawyerr were seen as the radicalists. They had their god-sons in the Economics department, Earth Science, Business School, Noguchi among others. Others misconstrued that as a Vandal movement to groom more of these radical individuals in the academia.
The Prof. Benneh group, which was perceived as the neutralist sought to align themselves to government of the day any time. They heeded to some of the demands of governments, which at times many of these Lecturers were seen as pro-Government conformist. The god fathers from these.
The Addae-Mensah was aligned to one particular faction, which was seen as the pro-conformist and radicalists. They subtly accept government on the table and then convince their peers to agree to their demands. Those days saw some divide within the University Community. These groups had their godsons spread in Languages, English, History, some members of Faculty of Law, College of Education among others.
Aryeetey was perceived to have evolved from the Addae-Mensah group. Soon, he debunked such assertion with his proactive students’ engagement, physical development and attempted to advance the University’s collaboration with government. Do you remember the famous UGMC and Africa Integras saga, where his name was eventually cleared after he filed for defamation? (See attached. 1). Many perceived that as the neutralist, however, other factions were further created. "Aryeetey's boys and girls." (See. the attached 1)
Prof. Ebenezer Oduro was seen to have evolved from the Asenso-Okyere, Tagoe factions. His engagement with government was minimal. His ultimate focus was to improve accommodation on campus and advance a green project. Planting green grass, among others. Some of the Aryeetey groups were perceived to be against his project. They attempted to use his green project to undermine the Commonwealth Hall annex project, which in one of their petitions reveal, the annex project would destroy the beautification of the existing Hall and issue about how to handle waste also emerged in their petition.
Even when Oduro was granted a years’ extension to his tenure, some of his peers were bent on undermining him. Many thought he was so aligned to Commonwealth Hall and Legon Hall affairs.
The Vandal Annex Project faced a lot of controversies by the Addae-Mensah/Aryeetey groups. Even after Commonwealth Hall and Old Vandals had gone through all the processes and proceeded with the sod-turning, months later, this same group attempted the worse. They planned to allow a female Lecturer to visit the project site and setup former Hall Master for abuse. Prof. Gadzekpo perceived to have aligned herself with Ernest Aryeetey group and current Vice-Chancellor Prof. Amfo reported the incidence to the police. All in an attempt to keep the project dormant. Remember Prof. Gadzekpo (College of Education) - (soon reveal the relationship in next episode).
Click to view : Prof. Nyame Exonerated
A committee was set up and Prof. Nyame, former Hall Master of Commonwealth Hall was exonerated. There were further recommendations that OVA should mount a Billboard at the various site to put information about the project on them and also update the University (See attached the committee findings).
The grand scheme was allegedly championed by the Aryeetey group. Also, the former Pro. VC then as she was, Prof. Amfo was part of convocation where it was alleged that she was against the Project and was anti-Vandal. However, images surfaced on social media about her presence at the sod-turning ceremony at Commonwealth Hall as well. This made many to doubt if she actually has any principles for herself. (See the arrow marked blue)
In February 2022, it was the glamorous day that unleashed all these issues currently at play. The name of the Hall Master, Dr. Francis Anderson Adzei came into the public space. An induction ceremony, which received massive global attention unveiled him and his philosophy. His name prompted some pro-neutralist and radicalist. "Adzei", one which many could not link where is allegiance were. Whether he was for Oduro's group or Aryeetey's group? Do you remember Professor Daniel Adzei Bokoe? Yet many had this argument that he is aligned by virtue of his name and hence may be in the radicalist group. However, others perceived he was in the neutralist group for his link with the Business School, hence his godfathers may be the Benneh's group. Far from that! Purely, a young and dynamic Hall Master, who for the first time in the University community, has risen through the ranks in the residential management system with an overwhelming endorsement by the Senior Members, known as Fellows of Commonwealth, to attain that enviable position of the Master of Commonwealth Hall. Whether he is aligned to any of the factions or not remains a debate, but one thing that is certain is his remarkable induction speech that provoked thoughts and pierced consciences of the entire University community amid diplomatic flavour, could lend some credence to his diplomatic radicalism.
So, what happened? Why is this faction, and alleged sabotage by the University to breakdown the fortitude of Commonwealth Hall?
During the Investiture of the Hall Master of Commonwealth Hall, it was alleged that the Vice-Chancellor felt humiliated by some remarks made by the President of the Old Vandals Association as regards the Vice-Chancellor’s involvement in the sabotage of the Annex project by the Old Vandals Associate. It was also revealed that some students sung in support of his utterances for that reason, the VC was upset from that day. Also present was the Registrar of the University at the event, the one behind all the communications of the Council of the University and soon will prove why such hasty decisions and notices have exposed the disregard for some of the fundamental principles of fairness, justices and respect for human rights. This event had dignitaries from all walks of life, hence it created a tensed environment of which the Vice-Chancellor eventually walked away unceremoniously before the formal closure of the programme.
A delegation of the Hall was sent to apologize to her immediately after the ceremony. Despite all these, the VC was alleged to have written to the University Alumni Council to compel the OVA President to apologize her again. It was also alleged that the UG Alumni wrote back to the VC that the OVA President acted in his own capacity and was not at the event as an executive member of the Alumni Association. This eventually raised a lot of tension between the University campus.
The Clashes of Vikings-Vandal - Pawn used by UG management to strike harder again
By: LAB & OBY
Coming soon... Episode 2 loading....
1. https://thefourthestategh.com/2022/10/31/i-have-found-justice-former-legon-vc-writes-on-winning-defamation-case-against-successor/
2. https://www.myjoyonline.com/court-stops-commonwealth-hall-conversion/
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