The Kumasi High Court has dismissed an application for interlocutory injunction to block the extension of the Vice Chancellor’s tenure at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The applicant, Clement Kofi Ohene Asare, sought to prevent the reappointment of Prof. Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson for a second term starting on August 1, 2024.
However, the judge, Justice Frederick Tetteh, ruled that the application lacked merit and questioned the plaintiff’s claim of being an alumnus of the university.
During the court proceedings, the plaintiff’s counsel argued that the reappointment process did not adhere to the university’s statutes, specifically citing issues with the Search Committee’s composition and the advertisement of the Vice Chancellor vacancy.
In response, the defendants’ counsel, representing the University and the Vice Chancellor, maintained that they followed all necessary procedures.
Following the dismissal of the injunction application, the plaintiff filed a stay of execution and an appeal against the defendants.
A dispute arose when the bailiff attempted to serve the university lawyers at the court premises, with the lawyers insisting on being served at the university officially.
The court imposed a cost of 9,000 Ghana cedis on the applicant, and the University Relations Officer, Dr Noris Bekoe, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, encouraging all parties to seek an amicable resolution rather than escalating legal actions.
In a related development, another staff member of the university has initiated a separate lawsuit to halt the Vice Chancellor’s reappointment, adding to the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the issue.
