TWO-MAN DELEGATION TO KUMASI: 

Members will recall that at a special meeting held on Thursday, June 1, 1978, the National Council for Higher Education discussed and accepted with slight modification the report of the Sub-Committee on the restoration of normal academic activity in the Universities and directed that the Chairman and the Secretary of the Council should visit Kumasi over that weekend to confer with the Asantehene on the possibility of representatives appointed by the Council joining hands with the Chiefs in their proposed negotiation with the Government for the return of the Universities to normalcy. 

On Saturday, 3rd June, therefore, the Chairman and the Secretary left for Kumasi. On their arrival and in the absence of the Vice-Chancellor the Registrar of the University of Science and Technology joined them to the Manhyia Palace where they held a meeting with the Asantehene and some of his advisers. (His Private Secretary, the Secretary to the National House of Chiefs and their Legal Adviser, Mr. Justice Wiredu were present). 

After the normal ceremonial welcome, the Chairman spoke in Twi stating the concern of the NCHE in the present impasse between the Universities and the Government which culminated in the appointment of the Sub-Committee. We then went on to discuss the details of the Committee’s report and recommendations with the Asantehene and his advisers. 

The Asantehene thanked the delegation for having come all the way to consult with him on the matter. He expressed his appreciation for the stand taken by the NCHE and the concern shown in the unfortunate situation which has led to the closure of the Universities. He informed the delega- tion of a meeting of the National House of Chiefs held with two representatives each of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) from the three Univer- siti es and some representatives from the Lawyers’ Association. He stated that they, the chiefs, were equally concerned with the poor image of the country which the present situation had created abroad and that they were determined to approach the Government with a view to finding a solution to the problems The Asantehene further informed the delegation that the Christian Council representatives had approached the National House of Chiefs on the same issue and that, apart from allowing them to participate in the discussions with the Academic Staff Association and others, they, the Chiefs, had decided to approach the Government alone. He, therefore, expressed his deepest regrets in not accepting the invitation to join hands with representatives from the NCHE at a time when the Chief’s had rejected a similar request from the Christian Council. He, however, promised to take a look at the recommendations contained in the Sub-committee’s report, copies of which were left with him and his advisers. 

REQUEST FROM MR. BEECHAM, SECRETARY TO THE SMC. 

On Monday, 5th June, the day prior to the meeting between the Chiefs and the SMC, Mr. F.W. Beecham, Secretary to the SMC, telephoned the Secretary of the NCHE and asked about the undertaking demanded by the Government from the academic staff and students of the three Universities which was expected at the Castle by May, 31st and June, 15th respectively. The Secretary, Mr. Lomo tey, referred Mr. Beecham to the copy of the letter from the joint-University Councils signed by Mr. David Andoh, which was forwarded to the Castle under a covering letter from the Council’s Secretariat. The substance of the letter under reference formed the basis of a discussion between representatives of the three Universities, the Secretary and Chairman of the NCHE on the one hand, and the Government on the other, on April, 28th. The Secretary further info med Mr. Beecham that the Sub-Committee appointed by this Council on the restoration of normal activity in the Universities, dealt with the points raised in their recommendations urging both Government and the Universities alike to exercise restraint and for the Government to show a fatherly gesture by stretching its magnanimity to cover all these. Mr. Beecham then invited the Secretary and the Chairman of this Council to be in attendance at the meeting with the Chiefs in order to answer questions relating to these matters, when called upon. 

On Tuesday, 6th June, therefore, the Chairman and the Secretary were at the Castle on the invitation of the Secretary to the SMC. They were, however, not allowed to participate in the talks which the Chiefs held with the Government because the Asantehene requested that they should be in waiting elsewhere to be called upon when needed. 

Soon after the meeting with the Chiefs, the Head of State and Chairman of the SMC invited Mr. Mate and Mr. Lomotey to his office where they met the other members of the SMC with the exception of the IGP who was absent. The Head of State made it quite clear that the Universities had taken the Government for a ride for far too long and that the Government were now firmly determined to deal with the situation created by the withdrawal of services by the academic staff. A member of the SMC sought to know whether there was need for amendment to any part of the University Acts in order to give more power to the NCHE to deal more firmly with situations such as these, or whether the NCHE was in duty bound to consult with the University Councils before carrying out Govern- ment directives issued from the Castle. The Chairman explained that the University Councils, as presently constituted, have their own code of ethics and that the NCHE does not in any way interfere with their work or impose any ideas on them. The Chairman continuing said that there were, however, occasions when matters intended for the University administration were rooted through the Councils for necessary action. Some members of the SMC expressed doubt regarding the ability of the Vice-Chancellors to apply University regulations.effectively especially when members of the academic staff were said to have withdrawn their services and were yet being paid their salaries. The SMC members expressed dissatisfaction with the whole conduct of affairs at the Universities and stated that they would not sit idle when public funds were being used to pay staff who were not rendering service. 

The Head of State then directed that the staff and students should be asked to submit their written undertakings at least two weeks before the re-opening of each University, failing which the Universities should not be reopened. In the case of the University of Cape Coast, the deadline is 15th June when the undertakings from both staff and students should be handed in at the Castle, and in the case of the two other Universities (University of Ghana and University of Science and Technology), two weeks before reopening i.e. by the 7th/15th of July. The Chairman said the undertakings would help the Government determine ahead of time just how many lecturers they should recruit from outside to replace those who did not want to teach. He threatened to close the Universities for one year and use Sixth Formers as National Service personnel to teach in the Secondary schools this year in place of graduates. The Chairman of the SMC further directed that the Secretary to the SMC should address letters to the Controller and Accountant-General instructing him to stop payment of salaries to all lecturers when the Universities are closed and a similar letter to all banks asking them not to honour cheques issued from the Universities for payment of salaries. The Chairman of the NCHE informed the Government that these matters would be brought to the attention of the NCHE and appropriate action will follow.

Re-opening Dates

• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – 30th July 1978
• University of Ghana – 21st  July 1978
• University of Cape Coast – 30th June 1978

MEETING WITH THE CHIEFS: 

It was reliably reported that the delegation from the National House of Chiefs led by the Asantehene, failed to persuade the Government to release Professor Boahen and the four students now in detention. It is understood that after having stated their case, the Chiefs demanded that the Government should prosecute those detainees against whom they had incriminating evidence, and to release all others in the national interest. The Head of State is reported to have informed the Chiefs that about eight detainees including Mr. Victor Owusu and Mr. Kom had been released. It was reported that those involved in borderline cases would be released when investigations had then completed. No guarantee was given for the release of the University staff and students. Instead the Head of State is reported to have taken the Chiefs to task for not having collectively, as a body condemned indiscipline in the Universities apart from individual pronouncements here and there. The Chiefs departed with nothing much accomplished. It was after their departure that the SMC had an hour-long session with the Chairman and the Secretary of this Council. 

(J. LOMOTEY) 

SECRETARY 

8th June, 1978

–more on restoration of normal activities in the universities  here