Many, particularly, alumni of St. John Bosco’s College of Education, who are hopeful of Prof. Joseph Amikuzono’s reappointment may have to brace themselves up for disappointment as the immediate past Principal cast doubts on his availability to head the institution again.
The decision of the Governing Council of the school not to renew Prof. Amikuzono’s appointment sparked outrage early this year with some including members of the governing body accusing the Council Chairman Rev. Alfred Agyenta of unilaterally deciding to oust a man, who, they say, performed remarkably well and demanding the decision be rescinded.
The Agyenta-led Governing Council that directed the former Principal step down for a replacement has now been dissolved following a change in government.
With this development, many in the college community are hopeful that the new council, when constituted, will take their concerns into consideration and reappoint Prof. Amikuzono.
However, the former Principal appears to have dimmed hopes of his return as head of the College of Education located in Navrongo.
Asked in interview as whether he will avail himself to serve in same capacity if he given the opportunity again, Prof. Amikuzono answered that he is not sure, stating that he has already moved on.
“I’m not really sure. The fact is that I’ve already moved ahead. I have moved on. I’ve already gone to UDS and started,” he stated in an interview as part of a Dreamz FM’s documentary highlighting his tenure and the controversy surrounding his ousting.
“If I’m given the opportunity again, then I may have to weigh my personal gains going away from this place as against institutional gains of remaining here. And of course I will always say that wherever the gains are, that’s where we all have to go”.
He emphasized that the leadership of the institution is not about his personal interest but its development and the welfare of its members, adding that he had attempted to stop the agitation for his reinstatement.
“When these disturbances were going, on most times, I just tell people that they should leave it because I know who I am.
Not to boast, but I know that wherever I go by the grace of God I’ll be able to live and live very well. So they shouldn’t be worried about my not occupying the position.”
“And what most people told me and I think I want to agree with them was that ‘this is not about you. It’s about the institution that pre-existed you and that is going to post-exist you. It’s about the institution and it’s about the poor people that you’ve been able to help to live their life’.”
Although he is not completely ruling out taking up the Principal job again, Prof. Amikuzono is hopeful that his successor will continue on the progressive path he has left the institution on.
