Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Mawutor Avoke says he is ready to make peace when he assumes the position of Vice-Chancellor again.
After a day of seeming tension at the school, Prof Avoke insists he will assume the responsibilities of Vice-Chancellor tomorrow, Wednesday.
Despite police presence, he made his way to the school’s campus after a senior staff of UEW, Kingsley Amoakwah sued UEW and the man currently recognised as Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Afful-Broni.
Kingsley Amoakwah is trying to get the court to end Prof. Afful-Broni’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor.
Addressing the press after initial resistance from police, Prof Avoke said he has already made moves towards peace in the school that has been marred in controversy for the past two years.
He urged persons on the opposite side “to consider the greater needs of the university” and accept his overtures.
“I have gone on to discuss with them how we can all come together to rebuild the broken bridges of trust to ensure peace and harmony within the university.”
“My foremost priority is to strive for genuine reconciliation among all staff and faculty. It is only when genuine reconciliation is achieved that we can restore the university to a functioning unit.”
Prof. Avoke’s troubles date back to 2017 where a Winneba High Court ordered him to step aside until a malfeasance case brought against him and the University’s Governing Council was determined.
The case brought before the court by one Supi Kofi Kwayera, who insisted that the Vice Chancellor and the Finance Officer, were operating under the institution’s defunct governing council.
The plaintiff argued that the University’s Council’s mandate had expired in November 2013, but the Education Ministry failed to constitute a new Governing Council for the university and rather allowed the defunct Governing Council which had no mandate whatsoever to continue in the functions of a properly constituted Governing Council.
Supi Kofi Kwayera also alleged financial and procurement irregularities on the part of the Prof Avoke.
Following the Court’s ruling in December 2017, Prof Avoke, together with some other Principal Officers of the University, was removed by the school’s Governing Council.
This was described by some lecturers as politically motivated.
But an Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) report exonerated him of accusations and later the Supreme Court overturned the High Court decision which led to the removal.
The management of the school, however, insisted Prof. Avoke will not be reinstated because his dismissal was determined by the institution’s Governing Council.