Member of Parliament for Efutu constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has blamed Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso and the school's authorities for the incident that occurred on the campus Monday.
According to the Efutu MP, the strict rules and policies implemented by the Vice Chancellor (VC) is the root cause of the student's demonstration which resulted in vandalism.
He explained that the VC has over the time become headstrong and adamant in his decisions, and would not even seek audience with the Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh and stakeholders in the University to establish peace and stability in the school.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin noted that the VC seems to have caged the students, treating them like children when the University is supposed to be a place of freedom and expression.
Though condemning the students for vandalizing properties on campus, he told sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' that the VC and the University authorities should bow their heads in shame as the incident was avoidable if only they had sat to jaw-jaw with the students.
He wondered why Prof Obiri-Danso appeared to have grown wings that he wouldn't grant audience with stakeholders including the Sector Minister till the situation had to aggravate.
“What has happened at Tech (KNUST) is a shame . . . Now the Minister that you wouldn’t want to sit with him is going to order you to do what is needful. So, your absolute power after all is not absolute. VC of Tech, after all, your absolute power is not absolute! You forgot that to a certain extent, the State has a responsibility to protect; so the State will intervene,” he stated.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin also warned other University Chancellors to take a cue from the KNUST incident and not infringe on the rights of students on various campuses.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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in the same way the absolute power of your president is not absolute fuuu uuls
FO000LISH LEADERS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ALL THESE EVEN IF YOU THINK SO. LEARN WHEN TO TALK AND LEARN WHEN TO KEEP QUIET. GHANA POLITICIANS AND LEADERS HAVE NO CLUE OF THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE SOCIETY. HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO DEVELOP THIS NATION EITHER.
Listen to this thing calling himself an MP. These are the very people who sponsor vigilante groups who will dare warn even the president and nobody dares touch them. This is an MP who was recently caught on tape negotiating "ways and means" yet he did not resign. This country is sick and it is clear why that is so. Let them support vandalism by students and blame the university.
Trust politicians to always want to take advantage of every situation. Why is everybody blaming the university authorities?Does a VC of a university have to consult the sector minister for every single decision he takes on matters affecting the school?In the past, university students have risked lives and limbs to protest vigorously against military governments attempts to have their way in matters that affected the whole nation. These days they go on rampage and burn things over trifles.They are only concerned about things that immediately affect them. What is the big deal in having mixed gender halls?Politicians should talk sensibly once in a while.They owe us that.
Some of the things written on facebook beats my attention . Student hall gates are locked at 10:00 pm. No more all night praying sessions on Campus . No more all night praying at PAA JOE STADIUM. The situation was getting out of hand. The security people cane the students and have to log the canning and the security man and the student.
Politicians will always want to make political capital out of every situation. your utterances are always insightful. Let's allow the technocrats to work. They are not harming students but guiding them. because of your votes, you will go heaven and earth make unnecessarily comment. you should also know that you will not be in power forever. Wrong is wrong. Times have change and lets change for the betterment of our dear nation Ghana