High Court dismisses Atuguba's suit against UEW

An Accra High Court has thrown out a case brought before it seeking to halt the appointment of Reverend Father Professor A. Afful-Broni as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba.

The case, which was filed by Professor Raymond Atuguba had described the induction of Professor A. Afful-Broni as an illegality, hence the need for a halt.

The Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba Professor Mawutor Avoke, It would be recalled, and four others were recently dismissed based on recommendations by the governing council of the university.

But ruling on the case in court today, the presiding judge stated that the court lacked jurisdiction to rule on the matter and therefore dismissed the case.

The High court subsequently threw out the injunction application by the plaintiffs against the investiture of the newly appointed VC saying it was borne out of bad faith and wrong procedure

BACKGROUND

It would be recalled that in November 2017, a private citizen, Kofi Kwayera sued the University of Education Winneba (UEW), and the Education Ministry for what he said was the unlawful extension of the school’s Governing Council’s tenure.

In his writ, he also accused the Governing Council of misappropriating the funds after the expiration of two tenures in 2013.

His suit came months after the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Afenyo Markin, called for the immediate withdrawal of thousands of certificates issued by the University of Education, Winneba, since 2013.

A Winneba High Court in July this year subsequently ordered the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mawutor Avoke, to step aside until the case brought against him by the private citizen, Kofi Supi Kwayera was determined.

The order was part of the reliefs granted for the interlocutory injunction sought by Kwayera in his case which alleged that Prof Avoke and the university’s finance Officer were operating under a defunct governing council.

The court also ordered then Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Anthony Afful-Boni to act until a determination is arrived at on the case.

But before a final verdict could be given by the court, Prof Afful-Boni has been sworn in as substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.