By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
An investigation into the 2025 staff recruitment process at Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) has revealed significant irregularities, prompting calls for Vice-Chancellor Professor Philip John Kanu to temporarily step down while a full inquiry unfolds.
The special investigative committee discovered that numerous interview score sheets had been manipulated after the panels had made their recommendations. Candidates who initially achieved scores exceeding the 60 percent threshold were downgraded, while “Not Recommended” annotations were added to disqualify applicants who had been approved.
At least eleven candidates, including Solomon Sidy Keddy and Christiana Njabu Foday, were adversely affected. Panel members Professors Abdullah Mansaray and Joe Pemagbi reported that scores attributed to them had been altered without their consent. “As Vice-Chancellor, I accept ultimate accountability for the recruitment process. However, I am unable to identify who altered the scores,” Professor Kanu stated during his testimony.
The committee criticized Kanu’s leadership style as autocratic, claiming it has fostered a “toxic university environment” where loyalty, rather than merit, dictates opportunities for access and advancement. Investigators also pointed to a lapse in oversight during the transition between the outgoing University Court and the newly inaugurated body, noting that important decisions were made without adequate scrutiny.
Mrs. Khadiatu Juanah, the Deputy Registrar for Human Resources, was implicated for her role throughout the recruitment process. The committee highlighted her evasiveness and the potential withholding of information that could have pinpointed those responsible for the score alterations.
Additional breaches were found, including the failure to adhere to recommendations from the Tertiary Education Commission regarding the re-categorization of former polytechnic lecturers and bypassing established procedures under the Universities Act 2021 for the appointment of deans, which granted the Vice-Chancellor undue influence over the university senate.
The committee’s recommendations include reinstating appointments previously approved by the former University Court, aligning recruitment decisions with Tertiary Education Commission guidelines, sanctioning the Deputy Registrar, urging Professor Kanu to step aside, and establishing a formal grievance mechanism to prevent future disputes.
“I was recommended by the panel, yet the altered scores deprived me of my rightful appointment. This undermines trust in the university,” lamented affected lecturer Prince Gevao.
The committee cautioned that unless swift and decisive actions are taken, the credibility and integrity of MMTU’s recruitment process will be severely compromised, with lasting ramifications for the institution.
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