Suit filed to block Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson’s re-appointment as KNUST Vice Chancellor

A petition has been filed with the High Court seeking to block the reappointment of Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson as Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The court documents, sighted by dailymailgh.com, name the University, its Governing Board Chair, and former Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, as well as Prof. Dickson herself, as defendants in the case.

The lawsuit, brought forward by Clement Ohene Asare, argues that the Governing Council’s decision to renew Prof. Dickson’s appointment was procedurally flawed.

The plaintiff avers in parts of the document that “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”.

“That the procedure for the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor and by necessary implication the renewal of the Vice-Chancellor’s appointment provided for by the 1st Defendant’s statutes requires that when a vacancy occurs or is about to occur in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, a search committee is constituted in accordance with law to propose a suitable candidate for its consideration.”

“That 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 the 1st day of August 2024”.

He further avers that “the defendants are adamant in their quest to continuing their unlawful conducts thus denying the legitimate right of other viable prospective competent contestants and/or qualified persons both locally and globally unless they are restrained by the Honourable Court from doing so”.

“That irreparable damage would be caused by the actions of the defendants of denying the 1st defendants and other prospective competent persons the opportunity to avail themselves to be considered as the Vice-Chancellor and which would defeat the very purpose of the 1st Defendants Statutes/Laws governing the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor and which said damage cannot be compensated in monetary value or terms”.

The Kumasi High Court is expected to hear the case and make a ruling on 30 July 2024.

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