Avoke Back As UEW VC …UEW Says No Appeal

The University of Education Winneba, (UEW) has said it would completely comply with a High Court ruling that ordered the immediate reinstatement of Professor Mawutor Avoke as the school’s substantive Vice Chancellor.

The University’s Governing Council took a unanimous decision to obey the High Court Order and allow Prof Avoke return to office to complete his term.

The New Publisher can also confirm that the Presidency has endorsed the decision of the Governing Council and decided to not interfere in the Council’s unanimous decision that Prof Avoke should return to office.

Strangely the Ministry of Education, speaking through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kwasi Kwarteng, insists it is not yet time for Professor Avoke to be reinstated as Vice Chancellor because that decision would have to wait until the Education Ministry completes consultations with stakeholders.

He also denied the Council has decided to reinstate Prof Avoke.

The PRO, Kwasi Kwarteng, spoke with Asaase Radio in Accra: “Yes, the Ministry met the University’s Council to have a briefing of what is going on in the University in relation to all matters. A lot of the conversations were issues bothering on the University and cannot be public given the space of time now.

“But the bottom line is that the rumours going around is not factual and at no point in yesterday’s meeting did we ever say or did we ever agree or did we ever reach any consensus as to whether we are affirming or not the decision of the court

“The court has made their decision and that stands on its own. I am sure the Ministry would continue to engage the University’s Council and all stakeholders to bring finality to the issue.”

It is not clear under whose instructions or interests the Ministry for Education’s PRO, Kwasi Kwarteng, was speaking but is posture clearly contradicts the unanimous decision taken by the Governing Council of UEW and supported by the Seat of Government.

As a matter of fact, Nana Ofori Owusu I, Chairman of the UEW Governing Council was emphatic in his address to journalists last Thursday just after the Council meeting when he said the decision had been reached to obey the Court Order and reinstate Prof Avoke.

The exact words of Nana Ofori Ansah I, were: “We are complying with the orders of the Court. The court says they should be reinstated and that is that. We would comply and reinstate them just as the Courts have directed. There should not be a difficulty in complying with a Court Order,” Chairman of the UEW Governing Council, Nana Ofori Ansah I told journalists after the Council meeting Thursday night.

He said reinstating Professor Avoke would not be a challenge because currently, the University does not have a substantive Vice Chancellor.

The Council Chairman, Nana Ofori Ansah I, noted further: “We had to be briefed fully by our Lawyer at the Council meeting and the decision was to wholly comply with the Court’s ruling. The court says they should be reinstated and we have to comply with it. Whatever decision that will be taken, some will be happy, others will not so it is based on whose interest that person is playing into. Not everyone will be happy but it is a Court Order and we shall wholly comply.”

EFFUTU CHIEFS SPEAK

The Effutu Traditional Council has expressed excitement the High Court directive to UEW to reinstate Professor Avoke as Vice Chancellor.

A statement signed by Neenyi Ghartey VII, President of the Effutu Traditional Council entreated the University’s Governing Council to “expedite action in respect of the Court’s Orders without any further litigation”.

The statement, dated Friday February 4. continued: “in view of past turbulence which affected the image of the University and by extension Winneba, we also entreat Council to put in measures that would ensure a manifest reconciliation for peace to reign without any further rancor”.

Neenyi Ghartey and the Effutu Traditional Council said it wished the returning Vice Chancellor a happy stay in office and urged him to be a “father for all in spite of all that has happened in the past.”

AVOKE READY

Prof Avoke, hours after the High Court ruling, said he was ready to resume work and promised to be a father for all, working with a mindset of reconciliation and forward mindedness.

BACKGROUND

A legal tussle, which began in July 2017, saw Professor Mawutor Avoke and other principal officers of the University dismissed for some alleged financial malfeasance.
The five officers are Dr Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, Finance Officer; Mr Frank Owusu Boateng, Deputy Finance Officer; Ms Sena Dake, Internal Auditor; Ms Mary Dzimey, acting Head of Procurement, and lng. Daniel Tetteh, acting Deputy Director of Works and Physical Development.

Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni became the VC after the ousting of Prof. Avoke. Afful-Broni’s term officially ended on 30th September, 2021

The acting vice chancellor of UEW, Professor Andy Ofori-Birikorang has been in charge of the school since 1st October, 2021 after the tenure of Afful-Broni.

Even before Afful-Broni’s term expired, the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) investigated the supposed financial crimes based on which Prof Avoke and co were asked to step aside and the EOCO investigation completely found Avoke and the others to be innocent of the charges for which they were sacked from the University.

On Wednesday February 2, a High Court in Winneba ordered that Avoke and the five others be reinstatement based on the investigative report of EOCO that completely exonerated them of the criminal allegations for which they were dismissed.

Indeed the is currently no substantive VC for the University meanwhile Prof. Avoke had two years to complete his term when he was wrongly dismissed from office.