GIMPA staff in distress over impending demolition 

The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has been thrown into a state of unease following a directive by the Rector, Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, allegedly asking staff occupying residential quarters to vacate their homes to pave the way for demolition.

The order has sparked agitation among staff and their families, many of whom have lived in the quarters for decades. They fear the loss of accommodation will severely affect their livelihoods and academic work at the institute.

For affected employees, the quarters represent more than shelter. Some have lived there for over 20 years, raising children and building families.

“This is the only home my children know,” a mother of three said tearfully. “At this time of year, finding alternative accommodation in Accra is impossible. Without a roof over our heads, how can we continue working?”

Another worker remarked, “We are not squatters. We have served this institution faithfully, yet we are being treated like strangers.”

Several staff also noted that looking for accommodation outside the GIMPA community would be extremely difficult due to the high cost of housing in the area. They added that relocating would force them to commute long distances to work, further affecting productivity.

The decision comes just months after the 2024 elections, where the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) won all polling stations on the GIMPA campus.

Some furious staff alleged that Prof. Bonsu gave them money to vote for the then flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, during the December 7 polls. But when the NDC still swept the campus stations, they claim, the Rector decided to “show them pepper” through the eviction order.

Concerns have deepened further because Prof. Bonsu openly served on two of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 manifesto committees: Youth and Sports, and Education. For many on campus, this confirms suspicions that he is not neutral but deeply political. Critics insist his partisan role has shattered confidence in his leadership and fuels the belief that the demolition agenda is nothing more than political witch-hunting.

Political analysts have cautioned that if the exercise goes ahead, it could be exploited to portray the government as unsympathetic to the plight of ordinary workers.

The possible displacement of lecturers, administrative staff, security personnel, and cleaners has also raised concerns about disruption to academic work. “If our families are thrown out, morale will collapse,” one lecturer said.

At the same time, staff have questioned why management is prioritising demolition when key infrastructure projects are stalled. These include the renovation of the UN Block, the Graduate School project, the deteriorated Executive Conference Centr,e and the GETFund facility.

Attention has also turned to governance issues at the institute. The Council Chairman, Professor Yaw Agyeman Badu, was appointed earlier this year by President John Mahama and sworn in by the Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu. Some insiders alleged that his independence is compromised, citing a post-retirement contract previously granted to him by Prof Bonsu.

“The Chairman cannot challenge him. That is why the Rector acts with impunity,” a Council source claimed.

Some staff further described Prof Bonsu as a “vindictive person who does not forgive”. According to them, his appointment was initially welcomed because he was seen as an insider and long-serving member of the institute. “We thought he was one of us, but he has turned out worse and has messed up the institute,” one senior staff member said.

Already, labour unions on campus are mobilising to resist the eviction. “If this directive is carried out, the entire country will hear our cry,” a union leader warned.

Stakeholders are now calling on the Presidency to intervene by halting the planned demolitions, reviewing the Rector’s contract extension, and safeguarding the welfare of staff.

“This matter has gone beyond the campus. It is a test of national leadership,” one senior administrator said.