The Supreme Court of Ghana, has overturned a High Court’s decision leading to the removal of Professor Mawutor Avoke as Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

The unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, quashed by certiorari, the judgment of the Winneba High Court, presided over by Justice George Ato Mills-Graves, dated 2 May 2018.

The Supreme Court noted that having failed to take evidence from the parties before purporting to grant a judgment in default of defence on purely declaratory reliefs, the High Court had grievously erred and the said error was patent on the face of the record.

The court also stated that the High Court breached the rule of natural justice by failing to afford the defendants a hearing.

By this unanimous decision, the judgment of the Winneba High Court, based on which Prof Avoke was removed from office, stands quashed and is, therefore, null and void and of no effect.

Prof Avoke and five principal officers of the university were dismissed per the High Court judgment.

The Winneba High Court in 2017, ordered Professor Avoke, prior to his dismissal, to step aside until a case brought against him and the university’s Governing Council, was determined.