The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, has called upon the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to step in and help resolve the ongoing leadership crisis at the university.
Citing the Asantehene’s renowned skills in conflict resolution, Prof. Boampong made the plea during a special convocation ceremony where the Asantehene was honored with an Honorary Doctorate Degree.
The Vice Chancellor’s request follows an attempted but unsuccessful move by the Chairman of UCC’s Governing Council, Professor Harold Steward Amonoo-Kuofi, to revoke the extension of Prof. Boampong’s tenure. The extension, granted on July 28, 2023, was set for a two-year term starting August 1, 2024.
However, the Council Chair unilaterally declared the extension void, sparking controversy within the university. During his address, Prof. Boampong underscored the importance of unity and wise leadership in navigating the challenges facing UCC.
He likened the current situation to the turbulence the institution experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period during which the university earned the nickname “University of Constant Confusion.” He expressed concern that the recent actions could lead UCC back into an era of instability.
“Today, we face new challenges, ones that threaten to unravel the progress we’ve made. Recent attempts to undermine the leadership of the Vice Chancellor remind us of the uncertainties that once plagued our university,” Prof. Boampong said. “External pressures risk plunging us back into confusion and instability.”
He emphasized that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s intervention, alongside that of the university’s Chancellor, Sir Sam Jonah, and the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta, would help restore peace and stability at the institution. “It is through the guidance of leaders like Otumfuo Osei Tutu that we can navigate these difficult times,” he added.
Background
The leadership crisis emerged after a letter from UCC’s Governing Council Chair, Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi, informed the Vice Chancellor of the revocation of his appointment extension, citing it as void. However, the university’s Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum (Rtd), responded on August 2, 2024, clarifying that the Vice Chancellor remained in office and urged the public to disregard the revocation claim.
Further complicating the situation, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) issued a directive confirming that Prof. Nyarko Boampong would continue in his role as Vice Chancellor until a thorough examination of the concerns raised by the Governing Council is completed.
The appeal for Otumfuo’s intervention reflects a growing concern within UCC’s leadership about the potential for instability if the conflict remains unresolved.
Source: www.kumaimail.com
