Classes Resume at the University of Liberia Today

By: Charles Crawford

 

The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

August 20, 2004

The University of Liberia Faculty Association(ULFA), has resolved to go back in the classroom this morning with immediate effect.

According to a joint release issued by the University of Liberia Faculty Association and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, ULFA’s Executive Committee said it was calling on its members to meet in the faculty lounge on the campus of the university by this morning, so that they (professors and instructors)can be informed adequately about the meeting it held with the government.

Two days ago, discontentment grew among ULFA members over the appointment of Dr. Al Hassan Conteh as President of the University of Liberia by NTGL Chairman C. Gyude Bryant, thus making the UL instructors and professors to boycott classes by laying down their chalks without any formal notice.

The joint release said the decision for ULFA to resume classes was reached yesterday at a local hotel after negotiations between NTGL’s representatives and the leadership of ULFA.

As part of the peace deal, the representatives of the NTGL agreed that the ULFA leadership will meet next week with Chairman Bryant, who is Visitor of the University of Liberia, to address issues of concern of the varsity’s employees including the recent appointment of Dr. Al Hassan Conteh as President of the institution.

Meanwhile, representatives of the two groups have agreed that Dr. Joseph N. Kollie, Sr.,who has been acting as president of the University of Liberia since the resumption of academic activities this year, to continue in that stead.

The NTGL was represented by Information Minister Dr. C. William Allen, National Security Agency Director Freddie Taylor, National Security Advisor Wilfred Clarke and National Security Minister Lorsay Kendor, while ULFA was represented by its Executive Committee members led by its acting president, Dr. Lavala S. Pewee.

© 2004: This article is copyrighted by The Inquirer newspaper (Monrovia, Liberia) and distributed by The Perspective (Atlanta, Georgia). All rights reserved.