Government has dissolved the governing Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) after the violent protest by students there,Starr News has learnt.
Government has also directed that the University reopens within fourteen days to enable academic work to continue.
An interim council has also been put in place to manage the school until things settle down.
The Council is chaired by Nana Effah Apenteng, Paramount Chief of the Bompata Traditional Area and has a three-month tenure.
This follows briefs and recommendations made by the Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh after he led a high powered delegation, including the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah and the Minister-Designate for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah to Kumasi.
A statement by government said: “Government’s immediate priority is to expedite the reopening of the university to ensure a smooth return to academic work. This view is shared by the university’s lecturers. Government is also mindful of an adverse international image the country would suffer if the university remained closed for a protracted period, especially given the substantial number of foreign students at KNUST. However, government has been advised by the Ashanti Regional Security Council that without a resolution of the relevant matters, it would not be safe to reopen the university.
“The Ministry took the view that the Governing Council was not in a position to review its own processes and decisions affecting the student body to guarantee peace. Subsequently, the Ministry of Education recommended to government the suspension of the university’s Governing Council and the establishment of an Interim Council.
“The government subsequently directed the suspension of the KNUST Governing Council and the establishment of a seven-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) chaired by Nana Effah Apenteng, Paramount Chief of the Bompata Traditional Area. The IMC, which was inaugurated earlier today, has a three-month mandate to oversee the day-to-day running of the university and to investigate all outstanding matters in order to expedite the reopening of the university.
“Government unreservedly condemns the damage to private and public property during the disturbances as unacceptable in any circumstances, and states for emphasis that those found culpable following investigations will be surcharged accordingly.
It is the expectation of government that the IC will work assiduously per its terms of reference, culminating in the early reopening of the university to restore normalcy”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
