Griffin appointed UPNG vice chancellor

4:38 pm on 3 May 2019

Professor Frank Griffin has been appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea by the National Executive Council, or cabinet.

EM TV reported the appointment was announced by UPNG Chancellor, Robert Igara.

He said that as a consequence, Professor Kenneth Sumbuk's appointment as Acting Vice Chancellor of UPNG had been revoked.

This follows months of political turmoil over the appointment process.

Professor Griffin had been cleared to take up the post late last year, but was sidelined when the Minister for Higher Education, Pila Ninigi, suspended the university's council over allegations of systemic corruption.

An interim council was appointed headed by Jeffery Kennedy as Acting Chancellor, prompting prominent members of the National Academic Staff Association to lead strike action in March.

Mr Kennedy resigned that same month, saying the government lacked confidence in his leadership.

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