President orders probe into corruption and mismanagement allegations at UENR

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Education to launch a comprehensive investigation into allegations of administrative abuse, corruption, and institutional misconduct at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani.

The directive follows a petition submitted to the Presidency on July 3, 2025, by a group of staff members accusing the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, of fostering a culture of silence and systemic mismanagement.

The petition, co-signed by several senior staff — including Rev. Ing. Prof. Eric Ofosu-Antwi (Director, Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability), Rev. Dr. Gilbert Mensah, Mr. Selorm Anku Ankudey, Surv. Kwaku Obeng Mireku Esq., Prof. Charles Adarkwah, and Mr. Robert Abraham Quainoo — alleged widespread corruption, abuse of authority, and suppression of institutional checks and balances.

They claim that unlike the transparent tenures of former VCs Prof. (Mrs.) Esi Awuah and Prof. Harrison Dapaah, the current administration has been marked by:

Abuse of transfer and promotion procedures,

Retaliation against whistleblowers,

Procurement irregularities and financial malfeasance,

Suppression of oversight bodies like the SRC and Internal Audit Unit, and

Intimidation and wrongful dismissals of staff.

A major flashpoint involves the Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES) — part of the African Centre of Excellence (ACE) project.
Petitioners allege that the Vice-Chancellor has made repeated attempts to remove Prof. Ofosu-Antwi as Director, despite his internationally recognised leadership.
This dispute has escalated into a legal battle and now threatens the university’s eligibility for a $6 million ACE Phase II grant.

The petition also highlights:

The alleged wrongful dismissal of Mr. Robert Abraham Quainoo, a former Chief Administrative Assistant to the VC;

The stalled $1 million Centre of Competence for Digital Education project initiated under Prof. Esi Awuah; and

The unexplained deaths of 12 students in 2024, which staff insist must be urgently investigated.

The petitioners are demanding:

Immediate suspension and investigation of implicated management members;

A comprehensive financial and procurement audit;

Reinstatement of victimised staff;

Implementation of National Security intelligence reports from 2024 and 2025; and

Whistleblower protection.

In a letter signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, the Ministry of Education has been instructed to probe the allegations and take appropriate action.

“The President has requested that the matter be thoroughly investigated and appropriate measures taken,” the letter stated.

President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, underscoring his commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional justice in the education sector.