Dame ends UEW tug of war …Council Chair displays maturity

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, would be forever remembered as the principal legal advisor to Government, who offered a brilliant win-win counsel that resolved  what seemed to be a  never-ending  episodes of disagreement and acrimony among the leadership of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

Chairman of the Governing Council, Nana Ofori Ansah I, has also displayed apt leadership and self restraint even in the face of extreme provocation by trouble loving elements to decided to use a section of the media to run him down and attack his personality simply because he decided to comply with a Court Order and the legal advice of the Attorney-General.

One would have thought the Court Order that asked the University to reinstate the Vice Chancellor and some five staff members who were wrongfully dismissed would have resolved the impasse but the situation nearly degenerated into another explosive one when the outgoing Financial Officer, Mr. Francis Obeng, resisted the decision of the efforts of the  Governing Council to get him to step aside and reinstate the substantive Financial Officer, Dr. Theophilus Ackorlie who was found to have been dismissed over nothing.

The tug-of-war was becoming another embarrassing media jamboree in the favour of trouble-mongering-elements who do not wish to see the peaceful development of the University.

The Attorney-General, when consulted for legal advice and clarification on the subject matter, delivered a masterstroke wise counsel that has completely resolved the impasse in a manner that has bought satisfaction to all and resolved the melee.

The position of the Attorney General is that Mr. Francis Obeng should make way for the substantive Financial Officer, Dr. Theophilus Ackorlie, to be reinstated.

It is  not a defeat for Francis Obeng because he originally took a leave of absence from his Deputy Finance Office position at University of Cape Coast and he could very easily resume his work there for the substantive FO at UEW to  enjoy his reinstatement without disturbance.

His contention was that Mr. Francis Obeng did not err in taking up a full time appointment at UEW when the substantive Financial Officer was on interdiction but because the interdicted official was contesting the interdiction in Court and asking for his reinstatement, it was clear the verdict could go either way.

“Consequently, Mr. Francis Obeng’s appointment as a Finance Officer at the UEW when the substantive Finance Officer was on interdiction is not a nullity. He was duly offered the appointment by UEW, and he accepted, and then sought permission from his employment to be absent for a period.

“Since there was no restraining order against UEW from engaging anyone for the position of Finance Officer and pending the determination of the matter in court.

“The meaning and effect of the ruling of the Court is that, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, a Principal Officer, ought to be reinstated to his rank and position of authority at the University. That rank and position of authority can only be that of the Finance Officer. There is no equivalent. To this extent, Dr. Ackorlie should be reinstated to the grade and office of a Finance Officer, since he has been cleared of all charges leveled against him.

“Mr. Francis Obeng’s appointment could be terminated forthwith to make room for the reinstatement of Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie as ordered by the Court,” the Attorney-General noted.