Academy did not confer professorship on Dr Adei - Egbert

Accra, Jan. 16 GNA - Mr Egbert Faibille, Managing Editor of the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper on Wednesday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that the African Leadership and Management Academy (ALMA) based in Zimbabwe did not conferred any professorial title on Dr Stephen Adei as he claimed.

Dr Adei is the Rector of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Mr Faibille said his checks on ALMA revealed that the institution was affiliated to the University of Zimbabwe and a "Holy Spirit Filled" one and had not conferred professorship on Dr Adei who was holding himself up as such.

Mr Faibille who is also a lawyer was in the dock as a witness and was led in evidence by his Counsel, Mr Anthony Amo Ayaw. Mr Faibille who is the plaintiff had filed a suit at the High Court against three defendants including Dr Stephen Adei, Rector of GIMPA as the first defendant, and the GIMPA Governing Council as the second defendant and the GIMPA Institution as the third defendant. Among the relieves sought by the plaintiff included an order by the court to restrain Dr Adei from holding himself as a professor and rector of GIMPA, that the Governing Council of GIMPA should advertise the vacant position in the media and a suitable replacement found. The rest are damages should also be awarded against the first defendant for deceiving the entire GIMPA institution, governing council and the fraud that he had perpetuated on the people of Ghana. He said the Board of Governors appointed the first defendant as the rector of GIMPA in October 1, 1999 for a five-year term, which ended on October 1, 2004.

He said when his term ended Dr Adei wrote to the Governing Council to renew his contract and since 2004 no letter had been given to him for re-appointment.

He said the only thing that had allowed Dr Adei to stay in office up till now was a letter given to him to act as the rector of GIMPA. Mr. Faibille also said the first time that he heard that Dr Adei had been appointed a professor was when he read the July 5, 2002 edition of the Daily Graphic that professorship had been conferred on from an institution in Zimbabwe.

He said according the academic and the Governing Board of GIMPA a person could only be confirmed as a professor when he had apply formally to the council or earned it through his publications to the institution. He said if a person was already appointed as professor from another institution the applicant would have to submit his works to the governing council to go through before he could be appointed as such. Mr. Faibille said Dr Adei had failed to do so. Hearing continues.