Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Professor Mawutor Avoke and six other officers who were sacked over alleged financial impropriety, have stormed the university to take back their respective positions.
Their action, which triggered tension at the university campus Tuesday, followed the filing of a motion by one Kingsley Amoakwa seeking to get Professor Afful Broni restrained from holding himself out as Vice Chancellor of the University.
The motion also seeks to restrain Prof. Afful Borni from interfering in the administration of Mawutor Avoke, who in the plaintiff’s view, is the legitimate vice chancellor.
A planned news conference at the university campus by Prof Avoke and the six other dismissed university officers was disrupted by security personnel called in by the university authorities.
The security personnel have now taken over the campus of the university, but 3news sources say academic activities have been ongoing despite the seeming tension.
Backing from UTAG
Our correspondent Kwame Kakraba reported that UEW local UTAG President, Dr. Kaakyire Duku, has rallied support for the embattled senior staff who have since their dismissal over a year ago been fighting to get themselves reinstated.
He explained that once Mawutor Avoke’s tenure as VC has not elapsed, he has every right to come back as vice chancellor, stating Afful Broni was put in place as a “caretaker vice chancellor”.
He maintained that Professor Mawutor Avoke will resume office tomorrow.
After they were prevented from holding the news conference in the University Council chamber, they moved out to the campus to address journalists in the open.
We’re taking our rightful positions
Prof Avoke justified decision to return to take over their positions, indicating that EOCO after a thorough investigation did not find anything against them.
According to him, the EOCO investigation against him and the other officers “concluded in black and white that we did not abuse our offices or are we in violation of procurement processes.
“This allegation formed the basis for which we were removed from office. It is also interesting to note that these dismissals were made despite the pendency of the case at the Supreme Court of the land at the time,” he stated.
“We are back to our offices today [Tuesday, July 23] to resume our rightful positions knowing there is no court prohibition on us and no notice of indictment from EOCO.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana