Dr Wilberforce Dzisah, the rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism,(G.I.J), has been asked to proceed on leave by the Governing Council of the Institute.

Acting Vice-Rector, Dr Ebo Afful, has been instructed to act as Rector in Dr Dzisah’s absence as a four-member committee investigates issues concerning procurement matters under his tenure.

This according to the Council will allow the committee facilitate a smooth investigation into probing the “academic integrity” of Dr Dzisah, as well as other management members of GIJ.

A letter from the journalism training school said “any other matters arising out of the investigation” may also be probed.

The investigations started on Monday, 18 December 2017 following several petitions filed with chairperson of the Council, Prof. Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh, against the rector.

The letter signed by Prof. Ansu-Kyeremeh, said the probe was necessitated by matters arising out of, and as summarised, in petitions submitted to the Council Chairperson; complaints raised during meetings with the Executive Management Board, Senior members, Senior and Junior Staff and the SRC; as well as the Chairperson’s observations on prevailing decision making and implementation procedures.

The Committee, according to the letter, is also to come up with proposals to rectify any shortcomings that may be detected to enhance the Institute’s operations. Council seeks the cooperation of all within the GIJ community to ensure a successful investigation.

Dr Wilberforce S. Dzisah was appointed Rector of the Institute on September 1, 2014.

Until his appointment, Dr Dzisah was the Vice-Rector of the Institute and also served as Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Social Science at the Institute.