UEW alumni urged to assist peace and reconciliation efforts
Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education has admonished Alumni of the University of Education Winneba (UEW) to play constructive roles in building lasting peace and reconciliation as stakeholders of the university.
“Let the alumni avoid the temptation of instigating an inner rebellion or stoking the flames in the midst of current social media threats from the alumni front”.
Professor Yankah made the call when he addressed the 23rd Congregation of UEW when a total of 358 graduates were awarded Diplomas, Masters and PhDs after successful completion of their courses at Winneba.
He said the Alumni have played a great role in building the University and must therefore avoid the temptation of bringing down that great institution they have built with their own sweat.
Professor Yankah urged the Governing Council of UEW to take steps to broker peace.
He expressed concern that a big vacuum had been created with the absence of a Chancellor and principal officers, denying the University of Fatherly Or Motherly Persona and a ceremonial head who at critical times could nip emerging crisis in the bud.
The Minister therefore called on the Management of University to expedite processes towards the appointment of a Chancellor to succeed Alhaji Asuma Banda whose tenure had ended.
He tasked the authorities of the University and other stakeholders to work together to create a model University that seeks to integrate the country’s diverse interest and ethnic groupings for the purpose of national development.
“Universities should be quintessential enclaves for social integration, rather than typical sites for the balkanization of ethnicities” and urged them to be each other’s keeper as Ghanaians with a common destiny.
Professor Yankah stated that, being a graduate in itself may not make one rich but there was an intangible feeling of goodness, from expanding one’s knowledge for the betterment of society and urged students to desire to attain higher education.
For his part, Reverend Father Professor Afful- Broni, Vice Chancellor of the University said a total 1,300 part- time teachers were currently teaching at the University and appealed to the Minister to use his good offices to aid the recruitment of permanent lecturers.
He said renovation works on the Winneba campus have been completed to help enhance studies and research works while the construction of a slaughter house at Ashanti Mampong and a water project at Ajumnako campus were 60 percent complete.
The Vice Chancellor commended all stakeholders including the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Prof Yankah, Regional Security Council and national Security for their efforts in bringing calm to the university.
Source: GNA