The three-member committee tasked to investigate students’ disturbances that led to the closure temporarily of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in October, last year, has completed its work.
“I am happy to say that the Committee has completed its work and submitted its report to me,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and also the Chancellor of the University, told a congregation of the University in Kumasi.
“I am studying the report and would comment on the findings of the committee in due course, after due consultations,” he said.
The Committee, chaired by Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Her Ladyship Justice Rose Owusu, was to probe the circumstances leading to the incident and come out with a roadmap to chart the path towards avoiding issues of such sort in the future.
KNUST, Ghana’s foremost science and technology tertiary educational institution, was embroiled in confusion, resulting from the students’ disturbances, a situation that called for the swift intervention of a combined team of the police and military.
The incident, which was described by the aggrieved student body as a response to what they termed as an orchestrated and systematic maltreatment meted out to them by the University authorities, led to the destruction of property worth several thousands of Cedis.
“One of my biggest concerns was the poor public image that the University received as a result of the demonstration, Otumfuo Osei Tutu told the KNUST 53rd congregation.
The University community, he stressed, has taken stock and learned some useful lessons from the incident.
This year’s ceremony saw a total of 8, 177 students, made of 7, 105 undergraduates and 1, 072 postgraduates being awarded certificates.
Nine-hundred-and-thirty (930) out of the undergraduates, representing 34 per cent, had First Class Honours degree.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, who represented the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at the event, lauded the graduating students for their hard work.
He affirmed government’s commitment to assist the University in meeting its mission and vision.
Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, said the institution through its academic and research activities has been instrumental in finding solutions to the nation’s development challenges.
