UEW impasse: Prof Avoke and team apologise to Education Minister

Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Professor Mawutor Avoke, has apologised to the Minister of Education Minister for his actions which has thwarted resolution of the university’s impasse.

Prof. Avoke who was removed from office over allegations of financial malfeasance about two years ago, has been using all means in fighting the university and government to get back to his post.

Last month he stormed the university campus with some other sacked staff of the university to reinstate himself as the vice chancellor, an action that triggered tension at the university on July 22.

But on Thursday, he led a six-member delegation to Mathew Opoku Prempeh’s office to apologise to him for their actions which they admitted, were not well thought-out.

They particularly regretted for not allowing due process in the resolution of the impasse at the university.

“I think we were a little bit naïve about that in the past couple of weeks…we must apologize for that initiative and we have come to the realization that you are cardinal in this matter,” Professor Avoke told the Education Minister.

He also apologised for physically seeking to reinstate himself and other sacked management staff.

“The issue about Winneba played out in a manner in which was to lead to a resolution but for some reasons, I think that we didn’t give you the ample opportunity to resolve the matter that it became an issue of struggle.

“We are thankful that we are back here, and we have realised that we may not have done well in not allowing you to ensure that there is absolute resolution.We also realized that if any initiative must be taken in terms of whether a court took a decision or not, we needed authorization from you” Professor Avoke stated.

The former VC has meanwhile, presented to the minister, a petition on issues of concern to he and other former management staff.

Receiving the petition, Dr Opoku Prempeh stated that the new university council was in the process of being constituted, and that the petition will be passed on to that council for its consideration once it is inaugurated.

University councils, he said, are responsible for the governance of their institutions.

He further reiterated his commitment to public service devoid of personal sentiments or interests in the discharge of his duties.