Two known friends of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, operating under a phony name called, concerned Ghanaians, have presented a petition to the President, John Dramani Mahama, asking him to remove his National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey from office.
The petition was authored by Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo and Langbong Bimi two known friends of Prof. Aryeetey.
The petition, from the two-member group, comes months after the same National Security Co-ordnator, had ended the University’s perennial water crisis through the provision of many boreholes, under the auspices of the Human Security Department of the National Security Secretariat.
The boreholes, some of them mechanized, were dug at various halls of the University, the Legon Hospital, as well as the Staff Village, supplying water to the over 16,000 students, hundreds of the teaching staff, patients and non-teaching staff of the nation’s premier university, who have for many years lived without potable water.
Apart from the UG, Accra Girls Senior High School (SHS), Achimota School, Bishop Herman College, Archbishop Porter Girls, Winneba Secondary, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital.
Others include; the Accra Psychiatry Hospital, Maamobi Hospital, Adabraka Polyclinic, Tema General Hospital, Burma Camp and other state institutions, have all benefitted from the water programme.
But the two-member group, has described the security chief as a threat to national security for demolishing an illegal tollbooth, erected by the authorities of the University led by Prof. Aryeetey, who wants to make money at the displeasure of parents, students, commuters and the general public, having created huge traffic jams, inconveniencing roads users.
Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo and Langbong Bimi, had claimed that the group’s membership include, members of the University of Ghana community, parents of students at the school, friends and alumni of the University, and peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of Ghana both at home and abroad, but
The Herald’s information is that this is not true. The group only exists on the laptops of the two individuals.
The petition, which was presented on March 25, this year, and signed by Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo and Langbong Bimi identified as “conveners”, claimed that “the petition is without prejudice to any of the matters arising from the planning and implementation of the tolling; the recent closure of some access roads to the UG campus and the resort to one main entry/exit point (Okponglo road); or any on-going discussions about the Government repayment of the road-rehabilitation loan, or the University of Ghana Act.”
The two went further that “the issue we bring to you is one based purely on principle and the rule of law, and a need to be assured of our ability to live in peace without fear that the gavel of official might will descend on us should we as ordinary citizens, be in disagreement with government.”
The conveners, claimed they instituted an online petition after the demolishing incident and collected signatures online and on hardcopy to support their demand.
The petition was copied to The Minister of Education, Minister of the Interior and the MP for Ayawaso West Wougon Constituency.
Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo and Langbong Bimi, are mostly seen in the company of Prof. Aryeetey.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) reports of the mixed reaction greeting the reappointment of the Prof. Aryeetey as a result of his dictatorial tendencies at the University.
The Herald is also informed that an huge number of lecturers and students are unhappy with him, over his controversial decisions, most of which had brought the name of the school into disrepute.
The Herald is again informed that some of the lecturers, were ready to express interest in taking over the position of the Vice Chancellor, had the University of Ghana Council, led by Justice Dr. Samuel Dateh-Bah opened nomination for the position, instead of an automatic re-appointment.