St. Vincent College of Education in Yendi has been ordered to close its offices indefinitely by the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari, following a contentious dispute over the appointment of a new principal.
The closure comes after the college’s board allegedly ignored the Overlord’s recommended candidate for the position, a move the Dagbon Traditional Council deemed a sign of disrespect.
This dispute stems from the recent retirement of the college’s previous principal. According to reports, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari had proposed a specific candidate to fill the vacancy.
However, the school’s board opted for another individual, prompting swift action from the traditional authority.
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Alhassan Abdul Fataw, Registrar of the Dagbon Traditional Council, issued the directive, instructing all college staff and management to lock the offices and vacate the premises.
Fataw argued that the board’s decision to disregard the Overlord’s recommendation was a serious breach of protocol.
“Since the establishment of the college, it is observed that there has never been a Dagomba principal appointed for the college,” Fataw explained. “The board of the school never informed the King of Dagbon about that vacancy.”
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Fataw further detailed that the Overlord only learned of the principal selection process when he heard they were interviewing candidates. He then invited the board, including the board chairman, to the palace.
“The King asked that among the applicants, they should try to erase the impression that the school board and the school management are against the indigenes of the area,” Fataw stated, emphasizing the Overlord’s desire for representation.
“So the board agreed and left the palace only for us to hear that the new principal happens not to come from the kingdom,” he added.
This has angered the community, with the youth of Yendi taking action. “For that reason, the youth of Yendi came together and said once they have disobeyed the King’s directive, they have to close it down so that we find an amicable solution to the issue,” Fataw concluded.