The United Kingdom-based university, in a notice issued on its website on Thursday, March 17, 2022, expressed concern about the wellbeing of the embattled youth movement convener who is a PhD student at the university.

Reacting to the university’s statement in a Facebook post, Prof Azar has said that the school, by expressing concern about constitutional breaches in the case of the activist, exposed Ghana’s legal regime and its institutions.

“Cambridge spoke and in doing so exposed not just our justice system, but more importantly, our legal profession, GBA, law faculties, professional association, NUGS, TUC, Nananom, Yaanom, etc.

“We may have gotten rid of the PDA, one party state, military regimes, etc. but our institutions retain their illiberal character and we have not developed effective antidotes to match that character,” Prof Asare said.

Pointing out a flaw in Ghana’s constitutional practice, Prof Asare added that “Cambridge has put us to utter shame and exposed our liberal fundamentals. We may be operating under a Constitution but it has not been able to curtail the spirit of Akoto.”

Cambridge in its release said it had learned through Oliver’s legal team and confirmed from independent sources that there have been breaches of due process in the treatment of their student by the state.

“Oliver’s legal team in Ghana have warned that there have been breaches of due process in his treatment. This has been confirmed by other independent sources,” the school said.
In view of that, the university said that it has, through its Vice-Chancellor, reached out to Ghanaian authorities and have requested the rule of law be applied to their student.

“The Vice-Chancellor has written to Ghanaian authorities to express his concern for Oliver’s welfare, requesting that the rule of law be applied and that Oliver be granted access to a fair trial,” the notice said.

Barker-Vormawor who is a PhD candidate in the English university was arrested by Ghanaian security officials after he had arrived in the country at the Kotoka International Airport on February 11, 2022.