Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Education, Winneba, Professor Mawutor Avoke has reacted to his reinstatement as the vice-chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba saying he will provide the needed commitment and visionary leadership upon his return to office.
In a statement after the court ruling, Prof. Avoke explained that though he considers the order as a total and final vindication of his position, he will in no way boast over the outcome of the judgment.
“Indeed, while I consider this judicial determination a total and final vindication of my position regarding the divisive issues that founded my removal from office, I am clear and certain in my mind that I will not boast over the outcome, no matter how relieving and joyous the judgment may seem… I intend to work every day with all the genuineness of heart, skill, and diligence at my disposal to ensure that complete and total reconciliation is done between me and all the persons who may seem to have been vanquished by today’s judicial determination,” He said.
Removal
Prof. Avoke was removed from office when one Supi Kofi Kwayera, took him to court insisting that the Vice-Chancellor and the Finance Officer, at the time, were operating under the institution’s defunct governing council.
The plaintiff claimed that the University Council’s mandate expired in November 2013, but the Education Ministry failed to form a new Governing Council for the university, instead allowing the defunct Governing Council which had no mandate whatsoever to continue in the functions of a properly constituted Governing Council.
Prof Avoke, along with a few other University Principal Officers, was ousted by the school’s Governing Council following the Court’s decision in December 2017.
Reinstatement
The court also ruled that all others who lost their positions in the school or were affected by the long legal tussle to be reinstated, and their salary arrears paid to them with retrospective effect from the day they were unlawfully removed.
Below is the full statement by Prof Mawutor Avoke
Today, the 2nd day of February 2022, the High Court, Winneba, delivered a well reasoned and sound judgment, giving effect to the principle of the rule of law as contained in the preamble of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992. The decision came after an application by one Samuel Kweku Ghartey, which application prayed the High Court to, amongst other things, issue:
– An order of Prohibition restraining the Defendant University from appointing anyone into the office of Vice – Chancellorship as same is not vacant but meant for resumption of office by Professor Mawutor Avoke, the incumbent Vice-Chancellor.
– An order Prohibiting the Respondent University from restraining its officers namely Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Tophilus Senyo Ackorlie, Finance Officer, Mr. Frank Owusu Boateng, Deputy Finance Officer, Ms. Sena Dake, Internal Auditor, Mary Dzimey, Acting Head of Procurement and lng. Daniel Tetteh, Ag. Deputy Director of Works and Physical Development from resumption of office
– A declaratory order that the Respondent University acted in actual bias or strong likelihood of bias in causing the stepping aside from office of Professor Mawutor Avoke and the above named five officers without any prima facie case against them.
– An order of mandamus compelling the Governing Council of the Respondent institution to implement the findings the report of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) that investigated six(6) officials of the Respondent institution and the recommendations made by a three (3) member committee set up by the Governing Council of the Respondent university, to reinstate the six(6) officers namely Prof . Mawutor Avoke, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, former 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 Ag. Deputy Director of Works and Physical Development who were exonerated by the reports of the two (2) bodies referred to above.
– An order compelling the Governing Council of the Respondent institution to allow the six (6) officers namely: Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, Finance Officer, Mr. Frank Owusu Boateng, Deputy Finance Officer, Ms. Sena Dake, Internal Auditor, Mary Dzimey, Acting Head of Procurement and Ing. Daniel Tetteh, Ag. Deputy Director of Works and Physical Development of the Respondent institution, who were exonerated by Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the three (3) member committee set up by the Governing Council of the Respondent institution, to allow and permit the six (6) officers to work in their respective positions without inhibition.
– An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondent institution acting through the Governing Council from obstructing the six(6) officers, namely Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, Finance Officer, Mr. Frank Owusu Boateng; Deputy Finance Officer, Ms. Sena Dake, Internal Auditor, Mary Dzimey, Acting Head of Procurement and Ing. Daniel Tetteh, Ag. Deputy Director of Works and Physical Development access to their respective offices.
– An order restraining the Respondent institution from proceeding to appoint a New Vice-Chancellor until the final determination of this suit.
In summary, the court, at a sitting today, ordered the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), where I once served as Vice-Chancellor, to restore me to the office to serve the remainder of my interrupted term as Vice-Chancellor. Consequently, I genuinely expect that in the coming days, I will return to the office and perform all the duties that come with the office of Vice Chancellor for the next two years.
Indeed, while I consider this judicial determination a total and final vindication of my position regarding the divisive issues that founded my removal from office, I am clear and certain in my mind that I will not boast over the outcome, no matter how reliving and joyous the judgment may seem. Instead, and with the help of the almighty God, I intend to work every day with all the genuineness of heart, skill, and diligence at my disposal to ensure that complete and total reconciliation is done between me and all the persons who may seem to have been vanquished by today’s judicial determination.
In making this humble declaration, I draw firm and complete inspiration from Nelson Mandela, an African icon who once said, “Reconciliation does not mean forgetting or trying to bury the pain of conflict, but that reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of past injustice.”
Further, as a distinguished peacemaker, the late Mandela also once said: “Forgiveness liberates the soul, it removes fear. That’s why it’s such a powerful weapon”.
In my view, the above quotes should remind us all of the need to put the bitter past behind us and work together honestly and diligently in the continuous journey to build the UEW into a respectable African institution of higher learning with an unyielding knack for global excellence, groundbreaking research pedigree and reach. It is in doing this and more that the UEW will be deemed to have achieved its true and stated purpose.
To conclude, I believe that as a University, the great UEW has the resources-both financial and human – and the goodwill needed to establish itself as a truly impactful and influential institution of global significance through the diligent efforts of management, staff, students, and all stakeholders. I pledge that upon my return to office in the coming days, I will provide the committed and visionary leadership needed to help the UEW to either achieve or move it closer to achieving its stated purpose.
May God Bless Our Homeland, Ghana.
Signed
Prof Mawutor Avoke
Source: ATLFMNEWS
