By Stephen V. Lansana
The Academic Staff Association (ASA) of the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) of the University of Sierra Leone (USL) has strongly condemned attempts made by people outside the university to undermine the smooth running of the university.
It could be recalled that on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, President Dr Julius Maada Bio depoliticized all public owned Universities in the country, and installed Chancellors for four public universities. The President assured Public Universities of autonomy in governance and urged them to project the integrity of their respective institutions.
But the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone, Brigadier General (Prof) Foday Sahr as the Executive Director of the recently established National Public Health Agency by President Bio leaves the position vacant.
According to the Universities Act, 2021, the University shall have a Pro-Vice Chancellor who shall be appointed by the court from among Deputy Vice Chancellors of Fourah Bay College, Institute of Public Administration and Management and College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences.
Therefore, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of COMAHS, Prof. Samai was appointed by the Court to run the university.
However, the Minister of Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Ramatulai Wurie went ahead and appointed Professor Lawrence Kamara on December 11, 2023 as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of USL and imposed him on the University contrary to sections 8(2), (5) and 9(1) of the Universities Act, 2021.
The act of the Minister was rejected by the University Court, and Prof. Lawrence Karama was not recognized by the University as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of USL.
The University Court, the highest administrative decision-making body, recently approved and ratified Prof. Mohamed Samai, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of COMAHS as Pro Vice-Chancellor.
But despite the decision of the University Court, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the regulatory body for tertiary institutions in Sierra Leone, has written a letter to the University recommended that consideration be given for adequate sanction of the University for failing to provide effective leadership and compliance with the decision of the Minister and the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on higher education.
Following the external interference, ASA-COMAHS held an emergency meeting of members on Monday, January 29, 2024, on issues relating to the leadership of the USL. They (ASA-COMAHS) have published resolutions on the matter of appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE).
ASA-COMAHS disclosed that its members have followed with keen interest the development around the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of the USL outside the provisions of the Universities Act of 2021 by the Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education.
ASA-COMAHS applauded the decision of the Court of the USL in upholding the rule and rejecting the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of the USL by the Ministry of MTHE.
ASA-COMAHS welcomed the ratification and appointment of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of COMAHS as Pro Vice-Chancellor of USL and formally congratulated him on his appointment.
ASA-COMAHS frowned at various attempts by statutory instruments involved in the resolution of the matter to undermine the decision of the Court of the USL and the rule of law in academic institutions,
“The members of SA-COMAHS therefore strongly condemn these attempts and advise all institutions involved in the resolution of the matter to uphold the involvement made on the office of the Vice –Chancellor and Principal of the University as prescribed in the Universities Act of 2021,” ASA-COMAHS said in a statement.
According to the statement, ASA-COMAHS wants the institutions involved in this matter to note that “its members will stiffly resist any decision that is made outside the provisions of the Universities Act of 2021 on this matter”.
ASA-COMAHS advised all institutions involved in the resolution of the matter to uphold the statutory provision made for the office of the Vice –Chancellor and Principal of the University as prescribed in the Universities Act of 2021.