A group of Sumbrugu residents is demanding the removal of Prof. Samuel Esramus Alnaa as Vice-Chancellor of the Bolgatanga Technical University, accusing the Vice-Chancellor and management of the university of neglect and unfair treatment.
The group, who identified itself as Sumbrugu Youth and Development Association, claimed management of the university led by Prof. Alnaa has, “systematically disregarded the mutual respect that once defined the relationship between BTU and the Sumbrungu community”.
In an address after staging a protest, the group accused Prof. Alnaa-led management of reneging on a land acquisition agreement the institution entered with its host community.
Per the agreement signed in 2013, the university was supposed to acquire 440 plots of land at a cost of 2,000 per plot for its future expansion, the group said.
However, Prof. Alnaa since assuming office as head of the institution in 2017 failed to honour the agreement and a renegotiation of the deal, which started in 2023 following persistent demand on the institution to honour its part of the bargain, has also stalled despite landowners asking for just a 500 increment, it added.
“Worse still, Prof. Alnaa has shown an attitude that implies BTU may relocate its campus annex to a different community—a move that would render our sacrifices meaningless. In 2022, he allegedly told the university’s Lands Committee that he was no longer interested in the Sumbrungu land, accusing the landowners of non-cooperation.”
“Such statements are not only false but deeply disrespectful to a community that has upheld its end of the bargain.”
Aside from this, the group claimed the university has also failed to prioritize residents of the community in employment of workers for menial jobs as agreed.
It also criticized the university management for poor sanitation it said has created crisis in the community and disregard for traditional leadership of the area.
The group is, therefore, demanding the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and their concerns addressed.
Meanwhile, management of the university has dismissed their claims of breaching any agreement the institution has with the community.
The Vice-Chancellor, though, acknowledged the poor sanitation in the area but said the university has sought assistance to deal with the situation.
