The reappointment of Samuel Ankamah Obour as the Registrar of Sunyani Technical University has been legally challenged by two individuals at the Sunyani High Court in the Bono Region.
The plaintiffs, Dr. Stephen Okyere Boateng, a senior member of the university, and Isaac Ofori Atuahene, a former administrator at the institution, are seeking a court declaration that the reappointment is declared null and void.
The plaintiffs are also requesting the court to declare that the defendant’s continued stay in office is without lawful authority and that he should refund all salaries and allowances paid to him by the university or from the consolidated fund.
The plaintiffs argue that under the laws governing technical universities, a registrar is appointed for a four-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for one additional four-year term, provided the individual does not reach the compulsory retirement age during the term.
They further contend that, at the time of defendant’s re-appointment in August 2023, he claimed to be 57 years of age, which would make him ineligible for re-appointment for four years as public officers are required to retire compulsorily at age 60.
They claim that defendant’s tenure expired on August 31, 2023, yet he continues to perform the duties of a duly appointed registrar.
The plaintiffs stated that the defendant’s reappointment is in violation of Sections 21 and 22 of the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922) as amended by Act 974, rendering the reappointment null and void.