Professor Mawukor Avoke, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, is on his way back to the same school as Vice Chancellor and the Governing Council say it is welcoming him with open arms.
The return of Avoke is based on a High Court Order that directed the UEW Governing Council to reinstate him and five other members of staff who were dismissed following allegations of procurement breaches and an ensuing legal battle.
The Court ruled that Avoke and the five should be reinstated because the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has found them not guilty of the allegations for which they were dismissed.
They are all to be paid their back salaries but the five are not to be necessarily made to take up the same offices they occupied they are to be reinstated as staff members on same grade.
In the case of Prof Avoke, he is to be reinstated as the substantive Vice Chancellor because the UEW does not have a substantive VC.
The Chairman of the UEW Governing Council, Nana Ofori Ansah I, confirmed to the media last Thursday that, currently, the University does not have a substantive Vice Chancellor therefore it would be easy to make Professor Avoke return to that office to complete the remaining of his term in compliance with the Court Order.
Indeed the UEW Governing Council met over the High Court’s directive last Thursday after which Nana Ofori Ansah I, the Chairman, spoke with the media:
“We are complying with the orders of the Court. The court says they should be reinstated and that is that. We would comply and reinstate them just as the Courts have directed. There should not be a difficulty in complying with a court order.”
He explained further: “We had to be briefed fully by our Lawyer at the meeting and the decision was to wholly comply with the Court’s ruling. The court says they should be reinstated and we have to comply with it. Whatever decision that will be taken, some will be happy, others will not so it is based on whose interest that person is playing into. Not everyone will be happy but it is a court order.”
Avoke Ready
Professor Avoke has expressed satisfaction with the High Court ruling and said he is ever ready to resume his work as VC of UEW.
He issued a statement calling for reconciliation and said he would be a “father for all”
“While I consider this judicial determination a total and final vindication of my position regarding the divisive issues that founded my removal from office, I am clear and certain in my mind that I will not boast over the outcome, no matter how reliving and joyous the judgment may seem.
“Instead, and with the help of the almighty God, I intend to work every day with all the genuineness of heart, skill and diligence at my disposal to ensure that complete and total reconciliation is done between me and all the persons who may seem to have been vanquished by today’s judicial determination,” Professor Avoke added in his statement.
Effutu Chief Happy
Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area who doubles as the President of the Effutu Traditional Council has welcomed the High Court’s order to the UEW Governing Council and said in a statement that both parties must allow peace to prevail “without further rancour.”
“The fact that council is being directed by the court to ensure compliance, the traditional council looks forward to council’s expeditious action in respect of the orders without further litigation.
“In view of the past turbulence which affected the image of the school and by extension Winneba, we also entreat council to put in measures that will ensure a manifest reconciliation for peace to reign without further rancour. We wish the incoming VC well in office and urge him to be a father of all in spite of all that has happened in the past,” Neenyi Ghartey VII said.
