Some Academic staff of Regent University
College of Science and Technology have given the university’s management
up to Friday to settle all salaries owed them – including arrears – or
they will withdraw their services to the institution.
The staff – who constitute the Regent University Senior Members
Association (RUSMA) – claimed they have not been paid since May. They
are alleging that some money meant for staff salaries has gone into a
building project which the university is bent on finishing in a year,
despite compelling financial challenges.
The development has affected staff-management relationship. A member of
staff who wants to remain anonymous for now claimed some of his
colleagues “are even being owed as far back as April”.
When reached for his comments, Vice President of RUSMA, Kwadwo Atta
Opoku said, ”This is purely an internal matter and we want it to remain
as such”. He wouldn’t say anything further than that.
(Prof. E. Larbi - President of RUCST)
UNEXPECTED DEMAND
But the University’s Director of Communications and Marketing, Henry
Osborn Quarshie, explained, “the contractor for our building project had
told us he would need money in a year but he came back unexpectedly to
demand some payment, so we had to advance him something and that
affected our ability to settle all staff”
“Indeed, even before we paid the contractor, our bankers had given us
assurance that they will grant us a facility to offset any looming
crisis but that also has delayed, hence the situation we find ourselves
in”, he added.
He said for now, payment was being done in piecemeal fashion till all
outstanding salaries are settled. He also disclosed that fees from the
weekend and summer schools were not forthcoming and that had further
worsened the situation.
(School Under Construction)
CHANCELLOR OF UNIVERSITY’S RESPONSE
Dr
Kwabena Darko (President Darko Farms)
– who was once a presidential candidate – appealed for
calm in his communication with RUMSA, fearing any bad press could “be
detrimental to the image” of a school working on getting a Charter.
He pleaded that the internal challenges should be addressed internally
to avoid the school washing its dirty linen in public.
Dr. Darko had promised to meet management in order to thrash out the
issues but other pressing business of his disrupted his intention.
“We are used to this recurring decimal. We need our salaries, enough of
the empty promises”, an affected staff in an interview rejected Mr.
Darko’s plea for a second chance to meet management.
Meeting with University’s President
After several memos to the office of the University’s President – Rev.
Professor Emmanuel Kingley Larbi – went without reply, RUSMA executives
were invited to a meeting at the behest of the President on 27th July,
2016. The meeting was held at his boardroom. In attendance were: Prof.
E. Kingsley Larbi, Professor Ernest Aryeetey (Former Vice Chancellor of
University of Ghana, now a member of Regent’s Board), Nancy Ansah
(Registrar), Justice Appiah (Deputy Registrar), Henry Quarshie
(Director, Communication and Marketing), Nana Ampadu (Head of Human
Resource) and Edmund Noi (Deputy Accountant) – all representing
management.
RUSMA was represented by Kwadwo Attah Opoku, David Botwe and Kobla
Afadzinu Sewornu. Prof. Larbi, at the meeting acknowledged receipt of
RUSMA’s letter, adding that everything captured in it was true apart
from the point that said; “RUSMA members feel neglected and we think
Management have taken us for granted”. He said the meeting should have
been held earlier but circumstances made it impossible.
RUSMA put across their concern that numerous MEMOs sent to the
President’s office had not received any response, necessitating their
position that management didn’t care about their plight.
In his response, Rev. Prof Larbi explained that they had made provision
for the lean season that is May, June but they used the budgeted funds
to pay off the contractor who was working on the school’s building
project, hoping to get some funds to pay salaries but things did not
work out. He said they had managed to pay the junior staff and some
senior staff who came with genuine cases. “Genuine cases” here means
“very pressing financial needs”. Such people were given a part of their
salary for the time being.
On the question of the specific time frame for payment he said
“soonest”.
On his part, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, who has been appointed Director of
the University’s Medical School that is yet to take off, reiterated the
president’s call for restraint, stating that some money meant for staff
salaries had been channelled into the project, hence the difficulty in
paying staff, but promised a resolution of the situation
For now, the unpaid staff have no timelines with which to wait for their
salaries as their patience reaches tipping point.
WE THE STUDENTS OF RUCST ARE HOPING AND PRAYING OUR FEES WONT BE INCREASED OUTRAGEOUSLY AGAIN NEXT SEMESTER.
(In-fact we are pleading please don't increase our fees at all)
THE CHANGE AGENTS
LONG LIVE RUCST!!!!
Thank you
Andrew Osei-Owusu KB
Level 300 (RUCST)
Mgt With Comp.
