Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah
The Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah has commended authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of the Science and Technology for converting all male halls into mixed halls.
According to him, the move is in accordance with national policy and changing global trends.
On August 10, residents of Unity and University halls, [all male halls] embarked on a demonstration to register their disagreement to the university’s actions. They argued that the single sex has become a brand and tradition for them.
A Kumasi High court subsequently threw out an injunction application that sought to prevent authorities of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) from converting the two halls to unisex halls.
The university authorities announced that the conversion of the halls was part of efforts to promote inclusion at the school.
Speaking during a familiarization tour of the halls of the University on Friday, Prof. Yankah noted that the move will serve as an example for other universities to emulate.
“Some of the images which I saw during the demonstration on television including coffins virtually a war was being waged against the authorities. Eventually when the court decided I thought the dust had settled sufficiently but I was particularly disturbed after the female students had successfully entered when we thought all was well then it suddenly emerged in the social media and the newspapers disturbing news of what appears to be considerable harassment that was taking place which was very disturbing which was also a signal that all was not well and that the university probably had to tighten security and certain aspects of its own operations to protect women.
“The men are brothers of the women and vice versa and that’s the kind of integration and cohesion that the world wants. If we continue to perpetuate the exclusive male, exclusive female thing within our certain in the light of realities we would not be helping in the realization of the national development plan. So I’m here to congratulate you for the wonderful thing you’ve done and the pace you’ve set for the rest of tertiary institutions to follow. But also in a way to see for myself whether it is true by projecting was is happening on campus that the co-existence has been successful and I say once again the credit goes to both management and students who have cooperated in spite of the initial challenge.”
