The campus of the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW) in the Central Region is expected to be the venue for a showdown as the dismissed former Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Mawutor Avoke, prepares to return to his office today.
Lawyers for the embattled former Vice Chancellor last week wrote a letter to the school’s Governing Council directing it to prepare the office of their client to enable him to resume work on Monday, November 26, 2018.
The lawyers also want same accord to be extended to former Finance Officer of the University, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling on the dismissal as grounds for their demands.
In October 2018, the Supreme Court quashed a high court decision that led to their suspension and subsequent dismissal.
“In effect, immediately the said judgement of the High Court, Winneba, was quashed by the Supreme Court on 31st of October 2018, our clients automatically resumed the erstwhile positions they respectively held in the University prior to the decision of the High Court, Winneba dated 2nd May, 2018,” the letter stated.
“Prepare their offices and make available to them the necessary tools and resources necessary for them to resume work not later than the 26th of November, 2018,” the lawyers demanded in the letter signed by lawyer Harold Tivah Atuguba, and copied the office of the President and six other state institutions.
“Pay all the entitlements due to our clients, which the University of Education, Winneba, illegally and unreasonably withheld from them from the time of their illegal interdictions, through to their illegal dismissals, and to date,” the letter added.
Avoke and Ackorlie’s lawyers warned they will resort to other avenues to have their demand met if the Governing Council turns a blinds eye to their letter.
“We wish to advise, and advice is hereby given, that should you, within seven (7) days of receipt of this letter, fail to commit, unequivocally, to meeting the above demands, we shall proceed and resort to other lawful processes or avenues to vindicate the constitutional, statutory, and legal rights of our clients without further recourse to you,” the letter added.
But the Authorities of the University have vowed to resist Prof. Avoke’s entry to his office, adding that he will be treated as a persona non grata
Supreme Court quashes High Court ruling on Avoke’s removal
The Supreme Court on October 31, 2018, overturned a High Court decision which led to the removal of Professor Mawutor Avoke as Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba.
According to the unanimous ruling, the High Court in Winneba failed to take evidence from the parties in the case before granting judgment.
The court also stated that the High Court breached the rule of natural justice by failing to give the defendants a hearing.
The justices of the apex court said the High Court’s actions amounted to an error of law patent on the record.
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.
Some lecturers described this as politically motivated.
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kasapa fm
