An independent committee has been set up to probe recent student disturbances at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Chancellor of the University, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, said the three-member independent committee, would be chaired by Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Her Ladyship Justice Rose Owusu.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said it was imperative that stakeholders within the KNUST community resorted to the use of tact, diplomacy and dialogue in addressing issues and charged them to respect decorum, while being mindful of the repercussions of their own actions.
The Chancellor abhorred the negative image that became associated with the University due to the student disturbances and that, it was in the interest of all stakeholders to resolve to act in accordance with laid down rules and regulations relating to all emerging impasse.
The Asantehene made these remarks at a graduation ceremony held at the University on Saturday, February 2, 2019.
“… I was particularly pained by the events of October 22, 2018 when all hell broke lose on the campus and the University had to be closed down to save lives and property. I’m sure there is no one associated with the university in any way who has not felt a sense of shame as a result of those events….it is essential that we are seen to learn the right lessons from the events” the Asantehene said.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, was closed down indefinitely after security personnel were deployed to quell violent protests by students of the university located in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.
The university Management Council was later dissolved by government as part of plans to find a resolution to the student-administration clash.
Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Vice-Chancellor of the University, in his report to the congregation, described the incident as a scar to the institution’s hard-won image.
In spite of the debacle, he said, the University authorities remained focused and would continue to work to meeting their mandate for sustainable development of the institution.
This year’s ceremony saw a total of 3, 729 graduates, made up of 1, 268 undergraduates and 2, 461 post-graduates from all the six colleges being awarded certificates.
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