Peace and Reconciliation Committee Submits Report to UEW Council
A six-member Peace and Reconciliation Committee constituted by the Governing Council of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), as part of the roadmap to resolve all outstanding issues and to bring lasting peace to the university, has submitted its final report to the Council.
This took place on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2022, at the Council Chamber, North Campus, UEW.
The Chairman of the six-member Committee, Mr. Alex Bonney, a labour expert and member of the University Council, indicated that the Committee received over 100 petitions from academic and non-academic staff of the university. According to him, the issues that came before the Committee among others, were dismissals, termination of appointments, punitive transfers, and non-confirmation of various positions and promotions.
Mr. Alex Bonney, a labour expert and Chairman of the Committee
“The Committee, having assessed the whole situation, had given out a number of recommendations and observations, taking into consideration the statutes of the university, our own act establishing the university, delving into the labour act, the 1992 constitution, the various International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and then the regulations. One of the major recommendations that our report makes is the need to look at our statute again.
"Based on our observations, it will be necessary to form a standing committee for employment and labour relations as far as the Council is concerned. It is also important to have a comprehensive Human Resource (HR) manual and policy to guide labour relations," Mr. Bonney averred.
Nana Ofori Ansah I, UEW Council Chair
The Chairman of the UEW Governing Council, Nana Ofori Ansah I, assured the Committee of the Council’s determination to implement the relevant recommendations in the report.
“It will be presented to the Council at the next Council meeting whereupon broader consultations will be made, especially with the appointing authority and other legal stakeholders. Like we always say, never again should we go through such experiences. We are not here to create empires but to live a legacy. I'm very sure that this work should be one of the legacies that all of us here should live and be proud of,” Nana Ofori Ansah I said.
Prof. Mawutor Avoke
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke, underscored the importance of building a thriving university based on equity, fairness and unity.
“Since the intention is to forge that unity, oneness and reconciliation, we as humans, institutions and individuals, may not have achieved an absolute result but we’ve given it a significant shot and I think that this forms a cardinal framework for the agenda forward and in the days following, we will see how this translates into reality at the concreteness of it to motivate staff to do their best,” Prof. Avoke stated.
Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah
On her part, the Ag. Registrar, Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, expressed Management’s gratitude to the Chairman of the University Council for his unbiased leadership and the six-member committee for the good job done.
“We believe that the report submitted will help us overcome, if not all, at least most of the challenges that we have faced and continue to reconcile members so that together, we'll all build an environment that will support us to work and enjoy whatever we do on this campus,” she remarked.
Prof. Victor Antwi, convocation representative on the UEW Governing Council
The Dean, Faculty of Science Education and convocation representative on the UEW Governing Council, Prof. Victor Antwi, on behalf of his colleague council members, pledged their support to ensuring the needed recommendations are implemented to the fullest.
The six-member committee was composed of Mr. Alex Bonney, Prof. Francis Owusu Mensah, Prof. Mohammed Salifu, Dr. (Mrs.) Abena Asomani Antwi, Mr. Ebenezer Ofori-Atta and Ms. Susana Kuffour (secretary to the Committee).
A cross-section of Academic Heads in the university
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