Prof. David Millar, Chairman of the Search Committee that appointed the immediate past Principal of the St. Joseph College of Education says the former head of the institution can still put himself forward to be reappointed for the position.
While deflating concerns over the dissolved Governing Council’s decision to direct Prof. Joseph Amikuzono to step down after the expiration of his 4-year term, Prof. Millar said the former Principal is most qualified for the position and should apply to be reappointed if he so wishes.
“For me, I don’t see any problem,” he said of the controversy surrounding Prof. Amikuzono’s ousting.
“He delivered more than we expected, even we as a search party. He has done excellently.
So we are proud of the choice of Amikuzono for BOSCO’s. So now that he has stepped out, if they open the window for a search for (a Principal for) BOSCO’s, he can apply.”
President of the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies said this in interview as part of a Dreamz FM’s documentary highlighting Prof. Amikuzono’s tenure as Principal of the institution located in Navrongo and the controversy surrounding his ousting.
The outgone Principal was directed by a letter signed by Chairman of the Governing Council to hand over management of the school and step down his position by December 31, 2024.
The directive sparked protests among stakeholders including alumni, who demanded Prof. Amikuzuno be kept in office.
Some of those who insisted the immediate past Principal’s stay in office should be extended, accused Chairman of the Governing Council Alfred Agyenta of unilaterally deciding the non-renewable of Prof. Amikuzono’s appointment.
But Prof. Millar deflated these claims, suggesting that the decision to have him stepped down did not mean he will not be reappointed if he puts himself forward.
He indicated that Prof. Amikuzono was appointed for a 4-year tenure and could be renewed for another term.
However, he opted to serve for a 2-year term and subsequently requested for an extension which was granted. He served both terms on secondment from the University for Development Studies (UDS).
When the extension was due to expire, Prof. Millar added, the former Principal sought another extension by 4 years, a request the Governing Council led by Rev. Agyenta turned down.
According to him, the Council’s position was that he had accumulatively served his four-year term and would have to step aside for the appointment process to start afresh.
“The other two years brought him to the December, and now he asked for the four years, and the chair of council says ‘no, it can’t happen like that. You had to take four, you took two. You asked for another two. So, in principle, your tenure has ended.”
This, however, did not mean he was prevented from seeking reappointment or that his application for another term would be rejected, Prof. Millar argued.
For him, Prof. Amikuzono will most likely be reappointed if he applies, adding that he will be eligible for another 2 terms of 4 years each since he served his first term on secondment.
“He’s a quality person. He has no record to show he can’t.
In fact, it would be most unfair and completely illegal to say he doesn’t. He qualifies. Now, if he comes, by the status of BOSCO’s, he has two terms of four years, eight years.”
