The Management of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has commissioned a seven-member committee to initiate the process of unity and reconciliation within the institution.
The committee is expected to also work towards ensuring inclusion and healing that would ensure lasting peace in UEW.
The committee, chaired by Prof. Francis Owusu-Mensah, Principal of the College of Distance and e-Learning of UEW, is mandated to receive, hear and review petitions on issues by aggrieved persons within the university from July 2017 to September 2021.
Other members of the committee are Dr Charlotte Fofo Lomotey, Dr Esther Danso-Wiredu, Dr Anselm Komla Abotsi, DrRichardson Addai-Munumkum, Dr Regina Oforiwaa Caesar, and Dr (Mrs) Patricia Ananga, who also doubles as the Secretary.
The formation of the committee was consistent with the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang’s vision of fostering a harmonious, conducive and inclusive working environment at the university.
The committee had been tasked to review petitions submitted to the chairman of the Governing Council and the Acting Vice Chancellor to grant audience to various petitioners when necessary, and conduct its business with the ultimate aim of healing and reconciling the university community.
Additionally, it was expected to make recommendations to the Acting Vice Chancellor on the petitions received, and submit a report on the process to the Acting Vice Chancellor not later than February 28, 2022.
The Ag Vice Chancellor of UEW, Prof. Ofori-Birikorang, who inaugurated the Committee noted that the reconciliation, unity, inclusion and healing move was initiated in October when he assumed office as Acting Vice Chancellor.
He stated that it was about time every member of the community worked towards unity, and forged ahead towards facilitating the progress of the university in diverse ways.
“The only way for our university to re-emerge as one community was to provide a forum that would afford anybody who had felt some kind of unfair treatment or had some grievances to express themselves and seek redress,” he said.
He further said, “When that idea came up, I submitted a proposal to management which was discussed and approved.”
“From there, it went to the Governing Council where the same was discussed and approved for a committee to be constituted to forge unity, reconciliation, inclusion and healing in this university,” he explained.
The Registrar of UEW, Paul Osei-Barima, in his remarks urged members of the committee to be strong in their minds and in their conviction to hold the Act, Statutes and regulations of the university which would lead to peace, reconciliation, inclusion and healing.
The Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Francis Owusu Mensah, in his response on behalf of members expressed appreciation to the management for the confidence reposed in them to execute such a task.
The committee, he said, would welcome all petitions from the university.
He, therefore, pledged that they would work objectively in the supreme interest of the university community.
Picture: Prof. Andy Ofiri-Birikorang (fifth from right) with members of the committee and some management of the university
FROM DAVID O. YARBOI-TETTEH, WINNEBA
