By Benjamin A. Commey
Accra, March 13, GNA – Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, the ousted Vice-Chancellor of Ghana Communication Technology University, has filed an interlocutory injunction at the High Court to stop enforcement of a decision terminating his appointment.
The application forms part of a substantive suit in which he is challenging his removal and seeking to restrain the university and its governing authorities from interfering with his employment, duties and benefits.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, Prof. Afoakwa argued that the decision to terminate his tenure was taken without due process and in violation of his right to a fair hearing.
“The arbitrary exercise of discretionary power by the defendants seeking to terminate the plaintiff’s contract of employment without hearing the plaintiff… is simply unlawful,” the affidavit stated.
Prof. Afoakwa is asking the court to prevent the defendants from enforcing the termination of a contract he said remains valid until February 28, 2029, pending the final determination of the case.
According to court documents, he contends that he was not notified of any alleged breach of contract nor invited to respond to accusations before being directed to cease holding office.
Prof. Afoakwa said letters dated February 3 and February 26, 2026, informed him that his contract would end on February 28, 2026, and that another officer had been designated to assume the Vice-Chancellor’s role.
He maintained that the decision breached provisions on fair hearing under the Ghana Communication Technology University Act, 2020 (Act 1022) and Article 19(13) of the 1992 Constitution.
“The failure to adhere to due process of law renders the purported termination of the plaintiff’s employment… a nullity and of no legal effect,” the affidavit said.
Prof. Afoakwa said he was first appointed Vice-Chancellor on March 1, 2021, under a contract scheduled to end on February 28, 2025.
However, he stated that by a letter dated August 20, 2024, the university extended his appointment for a further four-year term from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2029, which he accepted on August 31, 2024.
He therefore argued that the contract remained valid and binding.
Meanwhile, the Governing Council of the university has appointed Professor Ebenezer Malcolm to exercise the functions of Vice-Chancellor in an acting capacity following what it described as the cessation of Prof. Afoakwa’s tenure.
A letter signed by Divine Kpetigo, Chairman of the Governing Council, directed Prof. Malcolm, who previously served as Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor, to provide overall leadership and strategic supervision of the university pending further directives.
Prof. Afoakwa, however, argued that the appointment was invalid because he had not been lawfully removed from office.
In the interlocutory application, he is asking the court to restrain the defendants from interfering with his employment and benefits under the contract until the substantive case is determined.
“Unless this Honourable Court intervenes urgently, the defendants will continue actions that could throw the entire university into confusion and chaos,” the affidavit stated.
Prof. Afoakwa is also seeking declarations that his removal was unlawful, damages for alleged breach of contract and violation of his fundamental human rights, as well as costs.
The case is expected to be heard on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey