General News of Friday, 5 August 2005

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

Ghana Law school boss interdicted

The Director of the Ghana School of Law, Mr. Kwaku Ansa-Asare, who is facing multiple allegations of fraud, conflict of interest, harassment and unfair treatment, has been interdicted.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. J. Ayikoi Otoo, in a press release on Thursday said he had set up the Committee, in consultation with the Chief Justice, to enquire into the various petitions.

The Chronicle had carried some numerous news reports on allegations against Mr. Ansa-Asare.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in his statement, named Mr. Justice J. B. Akamba of the Court of Appeal as Chairman, with District Sergeant George Amegah of the Ghana Police Service as Member/Secretary.

The other members of the Committee are: a Chief State Attorney in the Prosecutions Division of the Attorney-General?s Department, Mr. E.F.A Agbolosu, an Assistant Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Mr. Tetteh-Mensah, and Assistant Auditor-General, Mr. Eddie Boafo.

The press release noted that all persons who had lodged complaints to the police, petitioned either the Attorney General or the General Legal Council on any of the several allegations, were to appear before the committee when it commences its work.

This suggests that Ansa-Asare has been removed from office on ?interdiction,? to pave way for the investigations to commence. The release indicated that the committee would be inaugurated and its sitting would start by next week.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports say, a Senior Lecturer of the school, Dr. K. Oti Adinkrah has been appointed to serve as Acting Director of the school, until government appointed a substantive director.

The interdiction followed reports in the Chronicle editions, including: ?LAW SCHOOL BOSS IN ?10bn SCANDAL;? ?ANSA-ASARE STORMS CHRONICLE;? ?Law School boss puts his boot in;? ?EXPOSED - THE ANSA-ASARE PROFILE;? and ?An investor also pursues the Law School boss.?

When the news of Mr. Ansa-Asare interdiction broke in School, most of the members of staff could not help but jubilate amidst tears of joy, for being relieved of an era of vindictive and oppressive administration.

There was a remarkable celebration and toast of champagnes, funded by a Lecturer, who claimed his salary had been withheld without any justifiable cause, by Ansa-Asare.

One of the joyous members of staff, Mr. Albert Adaare, said he was happy with the swift manner in which the Attorney General and the Chief Justice reacted to the petitions and news stories the paper carried.

He said most of the lecturers had been dissatisfied with the conduct of Mr. Ansa-Asare regarding the way he was handling the school, with a vindictive agenda against some members of staff.

?He is very petty, in actual fact anybody who does not share the same opinion with him becomes an enemy,? he added.

Mr. Adaare, who was full of praises for the Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice, said ?the Minister and the Chief Justice really mean business in the fight against corruption; we applaud them so much. Since I became associated to this school from 1993, this is the first time I have seen a CJ who is so much concerned with the state of affairs in the Law School.?