UEW Vice-Chancellor sued over UEW finances

Mr Bruno Bajuase Chirani, Acting Finance Officer of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has filed a writ at the Winneba High Court in the Central Region, calling for an audit into the university’s account.

According to Mr Chirani (plaintiff), the court should order a forensic audit of all payments made, especially under the stewardship of Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, Vice-Chancellor of the UEW.

In the writ, Mr Chirani claimed that Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, together with Paul Osei Barimah Esq, Registrar and also 3rd defendant in the suit, allegedly connived and made a payment of GH¢924,540 for the supply of furniture through Paa Badu Construction Limited without following due procurement process.

“On the last day of the meeting of Governing Council, John Darko, a member of the Governing Council and a beneficiary of the sum of GH¢924,540 unlawfully paid to Paa Badu Construction Limited, confronted the plaintiff for disclosing monies paid to him through a 3rd party,” he said.

The plaintiff further accused the Vice-Chancellor of paying GH¢400.000 to a private lawyer, Paa Kwesi Abaidoo Esq, for external services, although the UEW had employed the services of an external solicitor and a team of in-house lawyers, who are being paid from state coffers every month.

The plaintiff alleged that the conduct of Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni had caused financial loss to the state, and the payments made to Paa Kwesi Abaidoo, as legal fees, never went through any procurement process or any contract.

According to him, there were no existing records on contracts with these individuals, especially one Mr. Peter K. Boateng, which he (plaintiff) refused to pay, but that incurred the displeasure of the Vice Chancellor resulting in the appointment of another Finance Officer.

He added that the said money was paid to John Darko to influence the outcome of an interview to appoint one Mr. Francis Obeng (4th defendant) as Finance Officer to take over from him, saying it was an act to cover the misappropriation of funds by the 2nd and 3rd defendants.

The plaintiff, therefore, claimed that the appointment of Mr. Francis Obeng as Finance Officer by the 1st defendant institution was wrong, and was seeking an order quashing the appointment as illegal, null and void.

He further called for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni and the Registrar from compelling him to hand over his duties to Mr. Francis Obeng.

“…An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants from allowing the 4th defendant to have access to UEW’s official financial documents for whatsoever purpose, and in whatsoever capacity, until the final determination of the suit,” he said.

Source: thechronicle.com.gh