…Demands probe amidst Council’s weakness
A concerned group at the University of Cape Coast, has called on the government to immediately investigate alleged unapproved expenditure by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
The group, which pleaded anonymity, also wants a “full-disclosure of the questionable expenses of the Vice-Chancellor,” including an amount of $75,000. 00 on per diem alone and over GHC600, 000.00 on air tickets.
According to the group, Prof. Nyarko Boampong, also spent GH¢2 million on foreign trips at the expense of the welfare of students and faculty of the University.
Our painstaking investigations, have revealed that he traveled more than 20 times between February 2022 and December 2023.
Strangely, the university is reported to be struggling to pay its utility bills, accommodate students and also pay its lecturers.
“We will not tolerate the misuse of funds that undermines our shared mission of education and research”, it said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
The investigations uncovered an amount of $75,000. 00 on per diem alone and over GH¢600,000.00 on air tickets as evidenced by receipt from Global Wings and Tours Limited. This is over 268% more than the budgeted amount for the year 2022.
According to the group, the pharmacist cum biomedical scientist, on one of his travels on December 22, 2023, his air ticket alone cost GH¢118,267.00.
What makes the situation murkier is the fact that, the Vice-Chancellor, approves the travels himself without recourse to Council.
“The Governing Council which was supposed to hold him in check either neglected its duties or was compromised.
Many are calling for his head and that of the then Council Chair and Members for breach of duty.”
These expenses have caused widespread outrage among faculty, staff, and students, the group said.
“The Vice-Chancellor’s lack of fiscal responsibility has undermined the university’s financial stability and eroded public trust.
It is strange that a University that struggles to pay its utility bills, accommodate students and pay lecturers would condone such lavish expenses by one man who has not brought any grants during his four-year tenure but strangely illegally lobbied for a 2-year extension that overlaps his 60th birthday.”
As the university’s highest-ranking official, the Vice-Chancellor has a legal obligation to act in the institution’s best interests, the group said.
He has thus breached his fiduciary duty. Already some Alumni are preparing to go to the law court to seek legal redress over the unlawful extension of his term of office beyond his 60th Birthday in clear violation of the Constitution of Ghana as the previous Council.
Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, did not pick up calls on either his Telecel number 0208 or MTN number 0547.
He did not also reply to WhatsApp messages sent to him on the matter.
