In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, chaired by Justice Patrick Kwamina Baiden, has set aside the January 15, 2024, High Court ruling against Professor Rexford Assasie Oppong.
Professor Rexford Assasie Oppong Full Professor of Architecture, Former Dean of International Programmes Office, Former Head of Department and immediate-past Professorial Member of Governing Council all of KNUST
The appellate court’s judgment effectively nullifies previous findings of impropriety made against the Professor by a Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) fact-finding committee.
While the court did not award costs against KNUST, it issued consequential orders directing the University to expunge all records suggesting that the allegations against Prof. Assasie were substantiated.
Background:
The legal battle stems from 2023, when Professor Daniel Yaw Addai Duah and Dr. Alexander Boakye Marful, both of the KNUST Department of Architecture leveled several allegations against Prof. Assasie, who was then the Head of Department.
The complainants alleged that Prof. Assasie had:
Unlawfully collected fees from students for departmental development.
Deliberately delayed the graduation of certain students within the department.
Flawed Investigative Process:
In response to these claims, the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar established a fact-finding committee, headed by Professor Samuel Ampadu.
Although Prof. Assasie was eventually invited to respond to the claims, his legal team argued that the invitation was belated and the process fundamentally flawed.
Crucially, despite his persistent requests, Prof. Assasie was denied the right to cross-examine his accusers.
During the proceedings, Prof. Assasie also raised counter-allegations against his accusers, claiming they were conducting unauthorized extra classes and extorting money from students in violation of university regulations.
Rush to Judgment:
Following the committee’s report, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson acted with what has been described as “unexplained swiftness,” issuing a verdict that required Prof. Assasie to apologize to his accusers.
Believing the process was a travesty of justice, Prof. Assasie sought redress at the Civil Division of the High Court.
However, the High Court dismissed his application without venturing into the merits of the case, ruling simply that the committee had a legal basis and its findings were binding.
The Appellate Victory:
Undeterred, Prof. Assasie escalated the matter to the Court of Appeal.
And on February 12, 2026, the appellate court quashed the High Court’s decision, citing significant procedural breaches and an unfair trial process.
The Court further held that the committee, as constituted by the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, lacked the legal authority to compel Prof. Assasie to issue an apology.
Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi
