A writ has been filed at the High Court in Winneba, the Central Region, against the University of Education Winneba (UEW), the Vice-Chancellor, Reverend Father Professor Anthony Afful-Broni, the Registrar and the Finance Officer, all of the UEW.
Filed on September 9, 2019, by Mr Bruno Bajuase Chirani of Atietu Junction, acting Finance Officer of the university (plaintiff), the writ is seeking a declaration that the appointment of Mr Francis Obeng (fourth defendant) as the Finance Officer by the UEW was wrong as the said position was not vacant.
The plaintiff is seeking an order from the court to quash the appointment of Mr Francis Obeng as Finance Officer as same was illegal, null and void.
The writ is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the University of Education Winneba Main Administration (Northern Campus), the Vice-Chancellor, and the Registrar, Paul Osei Barimah (all defendants) from allowing Mr Obeng (fourth defendant) to have access to the university’s official financial documents for whatsoever purpose and in whatsoever capacity until the final determination of the suit.
According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Mr Francis Obeng (fourth defendant) from holding himself out as the Finance Officer of the University of Education Winneba.
Mr Chirani also wants an order for a forensic audit of all payments made under the stewardship of Prof Anthony Afful-Broni, who is the (second defendant) in the suit that has been filed on behalf of the plaintiff by his solicitors, C. A. Chambers of the Law Alert Group.
It is the argument of Mr Chirani that the appointment of Mr Francis Obeng as the Finance Officer by Rev Fr Prof Afful-Broni was aimed at unlawfully removing him (plaintiff) from his position as the Finance Officer.
Plaintiff claims the letter seeking to remove him plaintiff as the acting Finance Officer was curiously dated September 3, 2019, whereas Mr Obeng (fourth defendant) was to take over from the plaintiff on September 2, 2019.
He contends that on September 5, 2019, he received a letter dated September 3, 2019, titled APPOINTMENT and assumption of duty of Finance Officer, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor.
Mr Chirani avers that in the said letter, it was stated that his appointment as the acting Finance Officer had been terminated and that he was to hand over his duties to Mr Obeng.
According to the plaintiff, contrary to the usual administration practices of the university, the said letter did not even state or direct the plaintiff to his next post or office in the institution where he is to work.
Mr Chirani claims he became a target of the Vice-Chancellor, when he the plaintiff, started advising the Vice-Chancellor about the payments of huge sums of monies, particularly, to a lawyer called Paa Kwesi Abaidoo, and which conduct has been causing financial loss to the state.
According to the plaintiff, as per the records, amounts in excess of
GH¢ 400.000.00 has so far been paid to the lawyer, although the university has employed the services of an external solicitor, Mr Peter Zwennes, and a team of in-house lawyers, who are being paid from state coffers every month.
It is the case of the plaintiff that these payments to Paa Kwesi Abaidoo never went through any process, and yet state funds were paid to the said lawyer as legal fees without any contract.