This lawsuit, a significant development in the governance of KNUST, has been filed at the High Court in Kumasi.
It seeks to block the reappointment of Prof Rita Akosua Dickson as vice chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The court documents, reviewed by Asaase News, name the university, its governing board chair, former Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, who is alleged to have influenced the decision, and Prof Dickson herself as defendants in the case.
Clement Ohene Asare, a university alumnus, has taken a stand by filing the lawsuit. He argues that the Governing Council’s decision to renew Prof Dickson’s appointment was procedurally flawed.
According to the plaintiff, “the University Council chaired by the 2nd defendant without due regard to the University’s statuses/law have unlawfully and purportedly renewed the 3rd defendant’s appointment yet for two years, which is to commence from the 1st day of August 2024.”
The lawsuit contends that the proper procedure for appointing and renewing a vice chancellor was not followed as outlined in the university’s statutes.
“The Council did not follow the above procedure and more, in their purported act of renewing the yet-to-expire appointment of the 3rd defendant and for the new purported extension to commence on 1 August 2024,” the plaintiff stated in the court documents.
The lawsuit also asserts that the defendants’ actions deny other qualified candidates, both locally and globally, a fair opportunity to contest for the position.
“The defendants are adamant in their quest to continue their unlawful conduct, thus denying the legitimate right of other viable prospective competent contestants and qualified persons both locally and globally unless the Honourable Court restrains them from doing so,” the court documents further stated.
The case, which could have far-reaching implications for the future of KNUST, is scheduled to be heard at the Kumasi High Court on 30 July 2024, where a ruling on the matter is expected.
