GTEC resolves St Vincent College of Education impasse - College reopens after closure
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has resolved the impasse between the management of St Vincent College of Education in Yendi and the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, which resulted in the temporary closure of the college.
Consequently, the GTEC has asked management to reopen the college for academic activities to resume with immediate effect.
This came to light when the Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, paid a courtesy call on the Overlord at the Gbewa Palace in Yendi, in the Northern Region, yesterday to resolve the matter.
Addressing the media after a closed-door meeting with the Overlord, Prof. Abdulai said he had resolved the matter amicably with the Ya-Na and that he had given his blessing for the institution to resume operation without any hindrance.
He explained that the appointment process for the principal was not concluded because the candidate recommended by the recruitment committee had not yet resigned from the University for Development Studies as a staff.
“He hadn't resigned from the University for Development Studies; he hadn't even assumed office at St. Vincent College of Education and he has not been on their payroll yet,” he explained.
Prof. Abdulai said since the first person who was shortlisted for the appointment turned it down, the next person who also performed better at the interview would be considered for the position, stating “We are not interested in who has been appointed, what we are interested in is that the system must work”.
The Director-General thanked the Overlord of Dagbon and the entire college community for softening their stance for the peaceful resolution of the impasse to enhance academic activities in the school.
Resume operation
For his part, the Registrar of the Dagbon Traditional Council, Alhassan Abdul-Fataw, said: "Ya-Na has asked the management of the school to resume operations today after they amicably resolved the issues with GTEC”.
He explained that the closure was to prevent the staff from being attacked by the angry youth and community members over the disagreement regarding the recruitment of the new principal.
Background
On Monday, January 13, the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, ordered the closure of the college following a disagreement over the appointment of the new Principal for the institution.
The directive was issued after the school’s governing board allegedly ignored the Overlord’s recommendation for the position.
The college's Principal retired recently, creating a vacancy.
Following the development, the Overlord is said to have recommended to the board to prioritise suitable indigenes to defuse the long-standing impression by many that indigenes were often sidelined by the authorities in recruitment.
However, the board appointed Prof. Jonas Kwabla Fiadzawoo on November 27, 2024, which appeared not to have gone down well with the Overlord and the entire college community.
Prof. Fiadzawoo, on January 16, 2025, tendered his resignation letter to the GTEC, citing the controversy surrounding his appointment as the reason for his decision.
Writer’s email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh