The Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Dr. K.K. Sarpong, has revealed serious procedural concerns regarding the investiture of Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor as the university’s new Vice-Chancellor.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Kofi Ohene-Konadu, dated December 27, 2024, Dr. Sarpong expressed his inability to attend the event, citing legal and procedural irregularities.
The Chancellor disclosed that following a writ filed by Rashid Ibrahim, a UPSA alumnus, the Council had initially resolved to suspend the investiture pending a court ruling on the injunction application. However, on the night of December 26, 2024, an emergency Council meeting was convened to reverse the decision, allegedly based on advice from lawyers.
According to Dr. Sarpong, he was informed of the meeting via WhatsApp but was neither invited nor involved in the discussions.
“I was not privy to the basis for the lawyers’ advice,” he stated.
The Chancellor emphasized that the unresolved legal issues and the lack of transparency in the process left him no option but to decline attendance.
Rashid Ibrahim’s court challenge, which calls into question the integrity of Professor Mawutor’s academic promotion, has fueled controversy. The alumnus alleges irregularities in the process, claiming it lacked transparency and merit, rendering the Vice-Chancellor appointment ineligible.
While the UPSA Registrar has officially postponed the investiture without giving specific reasons, reports suggest that the ongoing legal dispute significantly influenced the decision.
This development has raised broader questions about governance and leadership processes within the university, with stakeholders keenly awaiting the court’s ruling and further clarifications from the university authorities.
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