Lecturers at the University of Ghana are demanding a statue of "racist" Gandhi be pulled down because they do not believe Gandhi is worth celebrating and emulating.
The University of Ghana has indicated that it will consider the petition being signed by some lecturers and students of the institution if they present it to the members of the University of Ghana Council.
Director of Public Affairs at the University Mrs Stella Amoa explained that the university is an academic community that encourages intellectual debates.
“This is an academic institution, if there is an issue and people feel strongly about it and they decide to present a petition, the university has no problem with such a petition. So the petitioners are well within their rights if they feel strongly about something that is taking place at the University of Ghana.”
“I’m sure when it gets to the University Council, they would look at it in line with the arguments that they would put forward and then they would decide what to do.”
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Amoa promised that the University authorities will not victimise any member of their community who signs the petition.
“I don’t see how someone will be victimised on account of a petition.” Amoa said.
Academics at the University of Ghana are demanding a statue of “racist” Gandhi be pulled down.
READ ALSO: Lecturers demand ‘racist’ Gandhi statue removed
Professor of African and Gender Studies at the University of Ghana, Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Dr Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, and Dr Ọbádélé Kambon, a research fellow and Editor-in-Chief of the Ghana Journal of Linguistics wrote the petition.
The online petition is addressed to the members of the University of Ghana Council and the chairman Kwamena Ahwoi. So far it has collected 270 of 500 signatures needed.
The statue was erected on June 14 this year at the recreational quadrangle; it was donated by India’s president Pranab Mukherjee when he visited the campus.
Since then there has been agitation from many students, alumni and Ghanaians over the statue being on campus.