A legal challenge has been mounted against the reappointment of Professor Rita Akosua Dickson as Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
A petition has been filed with the High Court in Kumasi, seeking to block the renewal of Professor Dickson’s appointment, which is set to commence on August 1, 2024.
The plaintiff, Clement Ohene Asare, has named the University, its Governing Board Chair, former Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, and Professor Dickson herself as defendants in the case.
The lawsuit alleges that the Governing Council’s decision to renew Professor Dickson’s appointment was procedurally flawed and did not follow the required procedures outlined in the University’s statutes.
According to the court documents, the plaintiff avers that the University Council, chaired by the second defendant, failed to constitute a search committee to propose a suitable candidate for the position of Vice Chancellor, as required by law.
Instead, the Council purportedly renewed Professor Dickson’s appointment without following the necessary procedures.
The plaintiff further argues that the defendants’ actions are unlawful and deny the legitimate right of other qualified persons to be considered for the position of Vice Chancellor.
The lawsuit seeks to restrain the defendants from continuing their alleged unlawful conduct and to prevent them from denying other prospective competent persons the opportunity to be considered for the position.
The plaintiff also avers that if the defendants are not restrained by the court, they will continue to act unlawfully, causing irreparable damage to the University and other prospective candidates.
This damage, the plaintiff argues, cannot be compensated in monetary terms. The case is expected to be heard by the Kumasi High Court on July 30, 2024, and a ruling will be made on the matter.
The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the governance of KNUST and the appointment of its Vice-Chancellor.
