The University of Science and Technology (UST) Council has finally appointed Professor John Sefa Kwadwo Ayim, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, as the new vice-chancellor of the university.
His appointment takes effect from October 1, 1999. Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem II, Acherensuahene and Chairman announced this after a special meeting of the Council in Kumasi. Professor Ayim was one of the three candidates, short-listed for appointment to the position by the Search Committee. The other two are Professor Albert Owusu-Sarpong, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor George Wereko Brobby, Dean of the School of Medical Sciences.
Born at Kwahu-Nkwatia on October 8, 1942, Professor Ayim was appointed Lecturer of the university in December 10, 1973. He was promoted Senior Lecturer on October 1, 1978 and became an Associate Professor on October 1, 1990. Professor Ayim who is married with three children currently Heads the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and is the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
An earlier attempt by the Council to appoint a vice-chancellor to succeed Professor Eugene H. Amonoo-Neizer, whose term of office ended about two years ago was held back by a court action. Professor Owusu-Sarpong in July last year, filed a writ at a Kumasi High Court to seek the court's declaration to follow the procedure adopted by the Council to accept and endorse without voting the report of the Search Committee. In addition already established precedent and convention should bound the Council, by approving the first on the short-list by the Search Committee.
It was also to restrain the Council from acting in a manner contrary to or prejudicial to Professor Owusu-Sarpong's interest in the course of the selection and appointment of a vice-chancellor. The court presided over by Mr. Justice Gilbert Mensah Quaye, in its ruling on July 23, this year, ordered the Council to appoint a vice-chancellor using the 1998 Search Committee's report as the reference point. The court asked the council to discharge its functions according to rules of reason and justice, "according to fairness not private opinion, according to law not humour, not arbitrary, vague or fanciful but legal and regular".
