Seven communities surrounding the University of Cape Coast have demonstrated against the university authorities, accusing the university of taking their lands illegally.
The communities are Kwesi Pra, Apewosika, Kwaprow, Akotokyir, Ankaful, Kakumdo and Amamoma.
According to them, the Vice Chancellor of the university has been intimidating the chiefs with lawsuits in order to dispossess them of their lands.
Residents of these communities, led by the various chiefs, who embarked on what they called a “peaceful walk”, also accused the university authorities of doing business with their lands by renting portions to business entities without their consent.
They are also angered by the fact that “ancestral tombs” have been desecrated as they are destroyed for other projects.
Nana Ntsiful IV, the development chief of Kwaprow presented a petition on behalf of the aggrieved communities to the Central Regional Minister.
The petitioned also mentioned that the University of Cape Coast has neglected its corporate social responsibility to the communities.
They made a passionate appeal to Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, Osabarima Kwesi Atta who is the Paramount chief of Cape Coast and well-meaning Ghanaians to intervene.
REACTIONS
A Budget Officer at the Central Regional Coordinating Council, Bless Kwame Darkey, who received the petition on behalf of the minister, assured the demonstrators that the Council will take the issues up to the relevant authorities and address the impasse as soon as possible.
The group later presented a copy of the petition to the Central Regional police commander and the university authorities.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of UCC, Major retired Kofi Baah Bentum told the media that the university has coexisted with the communities for years and assured that management would do what it can to foster that relationship.
He also denied claims that the Vice Chancellor and management do not respect the chiefs.
On corporate social responsibility, he said the university has not been able to live up expectation due to financial constraint.