GSL Committee finds Kutor culpable: Recommends his removal, sanctioning

The Ghana School of Law Committee that was tasked to investigate recent allegations of financial impropriety against some members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) has released its report, recommending among others, the removal of SRC President Wonder Kutor. 

“Being cognisant of its mandate as a fact-finding Committee, the Committee recommends that the requisite statutory processes are triggered for the appropriate bodies to follow due process to remove Wonder Victor Kutor as SRC President if his tenure has not ended, and to apply other necessary disciplinary sanctions in respect of Wonder Victor Kutor's breach of his fiduciary duties and presidential oath and proven lack of good character,” it said.

Wonder Kutor was asked to step aside in April for allegedly misappropriating the council’s funds in purchasing a vehicle, as well as running an SRC-owned Mobile Money business with his company name and diverting revenue from the business for his personal use.

In the 9-page report by the committee dated August 22, 2022, it noted that Mr. Kutor placed himself in a conflict of interest position and breached his presidential oath, especially since he acted as seller and buyer in the sale of a Toyota Corolla vehicle to the GSL-SRC. 

It also indicated that there was no evidence of an executive decision taken by the SRC Executive Council for the operation of an SRC Momo business, which meant that the SRC did not receive any income from the Momo business which operated from its premises. 

The committee additionally found that the SRC president unilaterally took decisions for foreign trips embarked upon by the SRC. In one instance, for example, the committee said one Albert Obidiaba, who is not a student at the Ghana School of Law, was sponsored with SRC funds for the Uganda trip. “Albert Obidiaba's only connection to the Ghana School of Law is that he was formerly a media person on Wonder Victor Kutor's campaign team when the latter was vying for the SRC presidency,” it added. 

It further said the SRC president much of the time did not show any form of accountability, hence running his office “as an autocrat with little or no accountability to his fellow executives.”

“The totality of evidence gathered confirms that Wonder Victor Kutor acted against the best interest of the GSL-SRC and failed to exhibit the good character and/or level of integrity required for holding the high office of SRC President and enrolment as a lawyer.

The national interest and negative publicity that Ghana School of Law attracted following the allegations of conflict of interest and impropriety levelled against Mr. Wonder Victor Kutor is indicative of the seriousness that the public attaches to the need for integrity in persons aspiring to be lawyers or to have anything to do with the administration of justice. It is also a reflection of the risk of impending reputational damage to the school if appropriate sanctions are not applied,” it further noted. 

Aside from recommending that Mr. Kutor be removed, the committee suggested a refund of the purchase price of the vehicle by Wonder Kutor, as well as the cost of sponsoring Albert Obidiaba to Uganda. 

It also recommended criminal investigations into the procurement/bidding process due to the passing off of a 2014 Toyota Corolla vehicle as a 2015 model.

Meanwhile, Wonder Kutor is expected to end his tenure today, September 1, 2022. 

Below is the report by the fact-finding committee.