Akufo-Addo’s swearing in of UEW VC ‘capricious’ and ‘reckless’ – Okudzeto Ablakwa

Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has taken a swipe at President Nana Akufo-Addo for attending the induction ceremony of the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni.

Rev. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni was sworn in on Monday, September 17.

According to the MP, the president’s decision to take part in the induction ceremony despite the legal issues surrounding the institution is wrong.

“It must be acknowledged that the President’s attendance to Prof. Aful-Broni’s induction yesterday was wrong, capricious, an affront to the rule of law and indeed most ill-advised. It does appear our President continues to be misled at grave consequences to the State.”

The former Deputy Minister of Education stated this in a treatise on the issues. He also stated that it is troubling for the president to have been present at the ceremony.

“The Akufo-Addo administration should be cautious about the precedence it sets and the real threat of a boomerang effect if we continue on this rather reckless path,” he added.

Prior to the induction ceremony, legal practitioner Professor Raymond Atuguba had cautioned the president not to attend the ceremony.

Professor Atuguba said the president would be abetting an illegality if he attends the ceremony since there was a case in court challenging the removal of the past Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Mawutor Avoke.

Professor Avoke and four others were removed from office for failing to ensure due diligence in awarding some contracts.

The five persons later filed a suit to challenge their dismissal, stating that they were not guilty of what they were accused of by the University Council.

Although the case is still pending in court, the University Council announced the appointment of Professor Afful-Broni and subsequently inducted him in to office on Monday, September 17.

Professor Atugaba, who was the legal representative of the former Vice Chancellor, washed his hands off the case.

He noted that some unseen hands were interfering in the administration of justice in the case between the University Council and Professor Avoke, hence his decision to withdraw his services for the lack of fairness in the process.

It is based on these developments that he advised the president not to partake in the induction process of the new Vice Chancellor.

Reiterating Professor Atuguba’s points, Okudzeto Ablakwa said there has been a lot of interference from some persons who wanted the former Vice Chancellor to be removed.

“I recall the numerous petitions (copies I still have) largely based on ethnocentricity to the Ministry of Education and then to the former Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur (God bless his soul) seeking to invoke their intervention – remember my boss at the time – Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and the former Veep all hail from the Central Region.”

He therefore commended Professor Atuguba for being truthful with regard to the issues at hand.

“Prof. Raymond Atuguba has revealed the uncomfortable truth in the University of Education, Winneba saga.

“…I can indeed confirm that Prof. Raymond Atuguba has spoken truth to power as has become his reputation. In the process, my reverence for him has notched even higher.”

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo while speaking at the induction ceremony, stated that authorities acted within law in their decision to appoint a new Vice Chancellor.