KNUST alumni contests VC's second term appointment at Appeal Court after High Court dismisses case

Kofi Clement Ohene Asare, the plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the University Council of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology's (KNUST) decision to appoint Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson for a second term as Vice-Chancellor, has filed an appeal.

The case was previously dismissed by the Kumasi High Court.

Ohene Asare initially sought a perpetual injunction to prevent the University Council and its agents from acting on the decision to renew Prof. Dickson's appointment, which is set to take effect on August 1, 2024. However, on July 30, 2024, Justice Frederick Tetteh of the High Court dismissed the application, citing a lack of merit and questioning the plaintiff's standing, as he failed to provide proof of his alumni status at KNUST.

The notice of appeal filed by the applicant argues that the High Court ignored binding statutory interpretations, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. The applicant asserts that the refusal to grant the injunction contradicts established legal principles and is contrary to the evidence presented.

Ohene Asare has filed a motion requesting the Appellate Court to stay the execution of the High Court's July 30, 2024 ruling. He contends that there are significant legal issues that the Appellate Court should address, and he believes the appeal has a strong likelihood of success. He also argued that failing to grant the appeal would be seen as endorsing illegality and that no court should protect an erring party, referring to the defendants/respondents.

The appeal is grounded in the conviction that the Appellate Court has the authority to overturn the Trial Court's decision and stay its execution.

On June 20, 2024, the KNUST Registrar's Office announced the University Council's decision to offer Prof. Dickson a second term as Vice-Chancellor. Her term will run until July 31, 2026. Prof. Dickson, a Professor of Pharmacognosy, previously served as the Pro Vice-Chancellor and is the first female Vice-Chancellor of KNUST. She is also an alumna of the university.