The Bolgatanga High Court has issued a directive for the removal of Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot, the Vice-Chancellor of C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, along with Dr. V.A. Ankamah-Lomotey, the university’s registrar. The court’s decision is based on the grounds that both individuals have surpassed the retirement age, rendering them ineligible for their current positions. This ruling follows a lawsuit filed by a Navrongo resident, Joseph Pwoawuvi Weguri, who sought the removal of the two officials.
In his filing dated March 20, 2023, Weguri urged the court to instruct the defendants to refund all funds, including salaries and allowances, received from the Consolidated Fund or the university. He also sought reimbursement for legal fees incurred during the process, deeming the appointments of the university officials as “unlawful, arbitrary, and illegal.”
Justice Charles Adjei Wilson, presiding over the case, asserted that the third and fourth defendants did not fall under Article 70 office holders. The court highlighted that the only permissible scenario for a public officer in a tertiary institution to continue in office beyond the retirement age was through contractual employment. Notably, the court found no evidence of a contract being sought or obtained by the two defendants to extend their time in office.
In light of the ruling, the court issued a perpetual injunction, restraining the third and fourth defendants from representing themselves as the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the university. Furthermore, they are prohibited from undertaking any duties or functions associated with their positions. The university’s governing council is now tasked with nominating or appointing an interim management board until a new Vice Chancellor and Registrar are appointed to replace them.
