UTAG Stalls KNUST Progress

The formation of a new Governing Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi could not take place in Kumasi on Friday as announced earlier.
Reports said the process, which was supposed to be facilitated by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Chancellor of the University, hit the snag at the eleventh-hour.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) allegedly refused to comply with the laid-down regulations regarding the formation of the new council.
All stakeholders were supposed to present new people to form the new governing council of the university but UTAG breached the order by presenting members of the previous council.
The decision of UTAG, according to unconfirmed reports, frustrated efforts to constitute the new governing council of KNUST on Friday as announced earlier.
Genesis of confusion
The various stakeholders that have representatives on the new KNUST Council, according to reports, were explicitly told to present new people to form the new council latest by Friday, to the Asantehene.
The agreement was reached when the government, UTAG and other major stakeholders held fruitful discussions with Otumfuo at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi last week, DAILY GUIDE gathered.
The government was represented at the meeting by Yaw Osafo Marfo, Senior Minister, Kan Dapaah, National Security Minister and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Information Minister.
It was agreed at the said meeting that the students’ riots at the KNUST happened during the tenure of the previous council, who clearly failed to manage the affairs of school, so their members should not be part of the new council.
Government releases names
Meanwhile, the government is reported to have replaced the four members on the old council with new ones in line with the decision taken by the stakeholders during the meeting with the Asantehene last week, DAILY GUIDE learnt.
The government’s representatives included Nana Effah Appenteng, a retired diplomat and Paramount Chief of Bompata Traditional Area and Hilda Haggar Ampadu, Public Health Specialist.
The rest are Steve Anoff Amoaning-Yankson, President of the Ghana Institute of Engineers and Alex Quaynor, a private legal practitioner.
KNUST closure
The university is not likely to be re-opened soon due to the inability of the stakeholders to constitute a new governing council to steer the affairs of the school.
The government, which intends to re-open the university soon to enable students return to campus and continue with academic work, had announced November 8, 2018 as the re-opening date.
KNUST troubles
Irate students of KNUST went on rampage recently, destroying properties worth millions of cedis.
They earlier boycotted class and destroyed several properties to express their grievances.
The students accused the management of the school of infringing on their rights and demanded the immediate dismissal of the KNUST VC, Prof. Obiri-Danso.
Subsequently, armed military and police personnel were dispatched to KNUST campus to maintain law and order.