Supreme Court Rejects High Court Ruling On Avoke

The Supreme Court has quashed the Winneba High Court’s decision that found former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Mawutor Avoke, and the former Director of Finance of the university, Dr Senyo Ackorlie, guilty of procurement irregularities.

The court also stated that the High Court breached the rule of natural justice by failing to give the defendants a hearing.

The said judgement by the Winneba High Court in December 2017 was the basis for the dismissal of Professor Avoke, Dr Ackorlie and three other principal officers by the University Council in August this year.

Following the Winneba High Court’s ruling in December 2017, Prof Avoke, together with some other Principal Officers of the University, was removed by the school’s Governing Council.

This was described by some lecturers as politically motivated.

But the Supreme Court argued that the Winneba High Court erred by failing to take evidence from the parties before granting a judgment in default of defense on purely declaratory reliefs.

By this unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, the judgment of the Winneba High Court, is, therefore, null and void and so of no effect.

Prof Avoke and five principal officers of the university were dismissed per the High Court judgment.

This ruling comes after Rev. Prof. Fr. Anthony Afful-Broni was inducted into office as the 4th Vice Chancellor of the UEW despite Prof. Avoke’s challenges in court.

In July 2017, they were interdicted by the UEW Governing Council for investigations to be carried out. After it emerged that some vital documents at some offices at the centre of an ongoing investigation, had gone missing.

But Prof Avoke denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, he said that he was innocent and will allow the legal system to work.