Accra, May 31, GNA - The Council of the University of Ghana has asked Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Vice-Chancellor, "to step aside with effect from 8 June 2005 until the committees set up to deal with disciplinary issues raised by the Mfodwo Committee submit their reports and Council ratifies their recommendations for appropriate action".

A statement signed by Mr F. K. Yeboah, Acting Secretary to Council, and made available to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, said the Council by consensus decided to vary some of its earlier decisions "mindful of the urgent need to protect the integrity of the University and the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, and to ensure that the disciplinary process and its final outcome are transparent and fair to all concerned".

The statement said: "Council is to ensure that every effort is made to facilitate the work of the disciplinary committees so that they can conclude their assignments in the shortest possible time.

"As provided for in The Statutes, in the absence of the Vice-Chancellor, the Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor C.N.B. Tagoe shall act as Vice-Chancellor."

This was the outcome of a University Council meeting held on Thursday 26 May 2005, under the chairmanship of the Chancellor, Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II to conclude its deliberations on the Vice-Chancellor's petition against the Council's decision taken at its meeting on May 5.

The statement said: "On the basis of further submissions made by the Vice-Chancellor and the very open discussion of issues raised, Council noted that the Vice-Chancellor, as the Academic and Administrative Head and Chief Disciplinary Officer of the University, accepted full responsibility for the various weaknesses and lapses identified by the Mfodwo Committee as factors that facilitated the malpractices associated with the 2004 - 2005 First Semester Examinations.

"Council gave due consideration to various positive developments recorded by the University under the Vice-Chancellors' Leadership. Council also expressed satisfaction with actions being taken by the Vice-Chancellor and the Academic Board to address the systemic weaknesses identified in both the Mfodwo and Konu Committees' Reports. The University was rocked by a massive examination scandal in which papers of several subjects leaked and some students got their grades massaged.

The Vice Chancellor's son, Kwadwo Tabiri Asenso-Okyere was identified as a key figure in the scandal.