Sunyani: The various unions of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) have rallied in defense of the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, amidst allegations of corruption. The unions described these accusations as baseless and falsehoods.
According to Ghana News Agency, the unions, which include the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), and the Senior Staff Association of UENR, asserted that under the leadership of Prof. Asare-Bediako, the university has seen significant growth. They highlighted the increase in student enrolment from 4,000 to over 16,000 as evidence of the VC’s positive impact.
Mr. Charles Kojo Aidoo, the General Secretary of the UENR branch of GAUA, addressed an emergency news conference at the university’s main campus in Sunyani. He praised the Vice Chancellor’s administration, describing it as open and innovative, and criticized media publications as unfounded.
The unions called for the retraction of the published allegations, insisting that it was essential to protect the reputation of both the Vice Chancellor and the university. Mr. Aidoo expressed concerns about individuals within the university disregarding regulations and suggested that the publication was without merit.
Dr. Francis Douglas Appiah, Secretary of the UENR chapter of UTAG, echoed these sentiments, describing the allegations as a calculated effort to tarnish the VC’s image. He urged the public to dismiss the claims and called for accountability from the media.
Additionally, Dr. Appiah appealed to national media regulatory bodies to address the issue with the newspaper responsible for the publication. He emphasized the need for journalists to verify facts prior to publication.
Mr. Clifford Asomah Kyere, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of UENR, distanced the association from the publication, stating it did not reflect the association’s perspective but rather the views of isolated individuals.