<<Print>>

Investigations by Daily Guide reveals there is going to be a massive demonstration by workers of the Cape Coast Polytechnic (C-Poly) against the Polytechnic�s Council Chairman, Dr Francis Ato Cobbinah, for allegedly causing political and corporate tension on campus. Further inquiry reveals that the local branch of the Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU) and the local branch of the Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana (PAAG) at C-Poly will set the pace for other workers to follow. As at the time Daily Guide visited the school, around 10:00am on Tuesday, some aggrieved workers had already put their red bands on, signifying their readiness to kick-start the demonstration. The Counsel Chairman, according to Daily Guide's information, is allegedly meddling in the Polytechnic's day to-day affairs, as well as the internal affairs of the local branch of Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), thereby encouraging some of the executives to whip-up sentiments against management and other POTAG members perceived to be New Patriotic Party (NPP) sympathizers. However, the situation has compelled some National Democratic Congress (NDC) members on campus to boldly dispute that perception since the Mills administration was not voted into power to intimidate their opponent. Further information has it that Dr Cobbinah has allegedly placed a ban on the extra teaching load allowance of staff and items on POTAG's condition of service. Daily Guide can authoritatively state that there is a division among the council members, as well as POTAG members, since some of them are against the rough tactics of Dr Cobbinah. Council Chairman Dr Cobbinah, who is also a dentist in Cape Coast, is again accused of forcing management to renew contracts of retired employees who are his 'close pets', as wells as requesting that heads of departments submit strategic plans for their departments to him, even though the polytechnic has a five-year plan. In view of all these allegations, a staunch NDC supporter and instructor at the hotel catering and institutional management (HClM) of the Cape Coast Polytechnic, Tsatsu McCarthy, has taken Dr Cobbinah to the Cape Coast High Court to issue an order of injunction to restrain him from conducting any interviews and appointments as head and dean of schools till all outstanding matters are disposed of. In an affidavit in support; the plaintiff pleaded with the court to ensure that the Polytechnic uses the 2007 law which was passed by Parliament to ensure that the new statute designed to fit the new Polytechnic Act regarding appointment 'assignments, remunerations and conditions of service of staff of the Cape Coast Polytechnic under section 24 (a) I of the Polytechnic Act, Act 745 of2007 was used. The affidavit further stated that it is unconscionable that time and money used on the new statute in line with the new act would not be spent because of certain ill motives Dr Cobbinah and his agents have. The affidavit again said the old statute would violate the fundamental human rights of some dedicated staff that have worked tirelessly and are waiting patiently for promotions and other conditions of service from the new statutes which the old one cannot provide Meanwhile, Daily Guide's investigations have it that a delegation from the Polytechnic have expressed their displeasure about Dr Cobbinah's behavior towards the Central Region's representative of the Council of State, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusie, and the Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who have offered to help settle the problem amicably. It will be recalled that in October DAILY GUIDE published a story with the headline; "Chop chop hits C-Poly" Where Dr Cobbinah was alleged to have increased the counsel's sitting allowance by 100 per cent.