High Court Terminates CKT-UTAS Vice Chancellor and Registrar Appointments

By Ing. Asaah Philip

A significant legal decision emerged from the High Court in Bolgatanga regarding the tenure of Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot as Vice-Chancellor and Dr. Vincent A. Ankamah-Lomotey as Registrar at the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS). The court ruling terminated their post-retirement appointments, sparking discussions and implications for the university’s governance and the adherence to legal frameworks.

High Court in Bolgatanga – UER

The case stemmed from the appointment of these people three years earlier by the Governance Council, led by Professor Gordon A. Awandare, even though they were close to the necessary retirement age of sixty. Correspondence involving important authorities, including the then-Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, suggests that the nominations were first approved, presumably due to political pressure.

But as the public’s anger grew and the legalities were investigated, it was clear that due process had not been observed. The appointments went around the customary practices for appointing key officers to higher education institutions. Lawyers for both parties argued about constitutional clauses and the validity of the defendants’ appointments.

Following several months of legal proceedings, the court ruled on November 27, 2023, in favor of Joseph Pwoawuvi Weguri. This resulted in the immediate termination of Professor Wilmot and Dr. Ankamah-Lomotey’s appointments. The judge emphasized that these officials’ tenure is untenable because there are no contractual agreements that permit them to serve over the retirement age.

Joseph Pwoawuvi Weguri (Native and Resident of Navrongo)

The court further asked the university governing council to form an interim management board for the institution’s administration and prohibited the defendants from continuing in their positions. Although the verdict did not require them to return their wages and allowances, it clearly terminated their employment and caused a major administrative reorganization at CKT-UTAS.

The ruling represented a significant ruling that has ramifications for institutional governance and adherence to legal and constitutional requirements for designating important officials. It emphasized how important it is to follow the law and posed concerns about the supervision and responsibility of the governance frameworks in place in educational establishments.