General News of Saturday, 19 December 1998

Source: --

UST Registrar testifies in Court

Kumasi (Greater Accra) 17 Dec. '98 Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, Asante Mamponghene and Registrar of the University of Science and Technology (UST), Wednesday told a Kumasi High Court that the UST Council at its meeting on April 17, resolved to follow the procedure used in 1992 to appoint Professor Eugene H. Amonoo-Neizer, as the Vice-Chancellor. The Registrar was giving evidence in the case in which Professor Albert Owusu-Sarpong, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the UST, is seeking a declaration to enforce the UST Council's convention for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor. Led in evidence by Mr Yaw Attakora Amo, Counsel for the plaintiff, Daasebre Osei Bonsu said he attended the meeting of the search committee appointed to interview applicants for the post when it sat in Kumasi from the third, fourth and fifth of June this year. He said at the invitation of the Committee he gave oral advice on the procedure normally used by the UST Council and its statutory committees such as the Academic Board to take decisions. Witness said at such committee meetings, it is by consensus or simple majority voting either by show of hands or by secret ballot that is use to arrive at decisions. In case of a tie, the Chairman of the Committee or any member who chaired the meeting can exercise a casting vote. He explained that it is part of his duties as the Registrar and Secretary to the UST Council to offer opinions and observations in an advisory capacity and these constitute working documents. In answer to a question by Mr J. B. O. Pobee, Counsel for the defendants, Daasebre Osei Bonsu said the UST Council is not prohibited from reviewing its past practices or conventions as established by statutes. The case was adjourned Thursday.