Former President of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration’s (GIMPA) Student Representative Council (SRC) has threatened to sue his alma mater.
According to Joseph Osei Mensah, this is because the school did not fully implement the recommendations of a Committee formed to investigate him.
In an interview with the press, he bemoaned the school’s sluggish response to his exoneration by the Committee three years ago.
Mr Mensah questioned why the school has yet to fully clear his name after allegations of financial impropriety tainted his reputation.
After being found innocent, he wants the school to take steps to fully restore his reputation, failing which he has threatened to sue the institution.
“These baseless accusations have had a significant impact on me and the other executives.
Unfortunately, all indications are that Management has refused to publish the retraction and apology, which was the final recommendation to be implemented from their own Committee’s report.
This strikes me as a complete disregard for the people involved. As a result, a court action may be the next option in the shortest amount of time,” the former SRC President emphasized.
Background
The GIMPA SRC President for the 2018/19 academic year, Joseph Osei Mensah, and his executive were accused of embezzling GH70,000 prior to the end of their tenure in office by the then Dean of Students, Prof. Anthony Mawuli Sallar.
As a result, the school withheld his diploma while an investigation was conducted.
The SRC Vice President, Kwadwo Yeboah Darkwah; the SRC Treasurer, Felix Kwasi Donkor; the SRC PRO, Jeffred Okoe Aryeetey; the Finance Committee Chairman, Emmanuel Ashaley Djanie; and the Chairman of the Social Planning Committee, Bright Ayi Junior were also affected.
When the new SRC administration took over, they conducted an independent investigation into the situation.
The outcome established that Mr Osei Mensah and his colleagues were not guilty, stating that the previous administration handed over an audited account in a proper and transparent manner.
As a result, on February 4, 2020, the students’ leadership issued a press statement to clear the former SRC president of the allegations, stating that the SRC’s finances were in order and that there was no embezzlement as reported by the then Dean of Students.
Management, however, was dissatisfied and formed a committee led by Professor Philip Osei Duku, the then Deputy Rector, with other members to investigate the matter further.
Other members included GIMPA’s then-secretary, Julius Atukpui (retired); Dr Lord Yevugah Mawuko, Head of the Department for Public Schools; James Abrah, Director of Finance, and Charity Hayford, who served as Committee Secretary.
The Committee submitted its report in August 2020, after three months of investigation.
He does, however, want the Committee’s recommendations to be fully implemented, with a focus on a release that clears him and his colleagues.
“It is important to note that the recommendations as captured in the Committee’s report, was further tabled at the Central Administration Committee of the Institute, chaired by then Rector, Prof. Phillip Bondzi-Simpson and was further affirmed, which gave the Secretary of the Institute the green light to proceed with the full implementation of the Committee’s recommendations.
Unfortunately, the GIMPA Management has failed to faithfully carry out the full implementation of the recommendations for nearly three years,” he lamented.
The accused’s certificates, however, have been released by the school.
