UG: UTAG lashes out at University management over Gyampo, Butako suspension

The University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UG-UTAG) has lashed out at the Management of the University over its decision to suspend two lecturers on grounds of misconduct.

The lecturers, Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor were handed a six-months and four-months suspension respectively after the school’s disciplinary committee found them guilty of misconduct.

Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor will serve their respective sanctions without pay.

This was a disciplinary action by University authorities against the two lecturers who were indicted over the BBC’s sex for grades documentary.

But UG-UTAG, reacting to this, has described the sanctions as relatively harsh as the core allegations of sex for grades could not be established against the two.

It also says that the University has been deficient in communicating the actual finding of the Facts Finding Committee on the allegation by the BBC that the two have been soliciting for sexual encounters in exchange for academic favours.

“The hearings of the Disciplinary Committee and its recommendations have culminated in the suspension of Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Butakor for six and four months respectively, without pay. UG-UTAG has followed with keen interest, the processes that have led to the suspension of our two colleagues and wish to state as follows;

1. That the Facts Finding Committee constituted by the University to investigate the matter in its report could NOT ESTABLISH ANY CASE OF SEX FOR GRADES against our colleagues.

2. That the University its public and official communications on this matter has been deficient in communicating the actual finding of the Facts Finding Committee as contained in point one above. This in our view has not done the University sufficient good in terms of clearing the name and image of our members and the University of the allegations of “Sex for Grades” by the BBC,” part of the statement reads.

The Association also commended the two for deciding against pursuing the matter but serve the sanctions imposed on them.

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“UTAG has taken cognizance of Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor’s decision not to pursue the matter any further, but serve the sanctions imposed on them, and wish to commend them for such a decision even in the hard times they find themselves. However, UTAG as a Professional Association considers the suspensions as relatively harsh, considering that the core allegations of “Sex for Grades” could not be established against them.

As part of the sanctions, the two will be ‘required to undergo appropriate training on the University of Ghana’s Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy as well as the Code of Conduct for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana.’

But UG-UTAG says that it “finds it unusual that persons who were not found complicit in any way of sexual misconduct by the Fact-Finding Committee be subjected to training on sexual harassment, and annual assessment up to five years”

Read the full statement from the University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UG-UTAG) on the suspension of Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor

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Story by: universnewsroom.com