Destroyed property at KNUST estimated at GHC1.7million

Officials at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have said the estimated cost of damage caused the university after the October 22 demonstration is between the range of GH¢1.6 million and GH¢1.7 million.

The demonstration, which the students said was peaceful, turned violent leading to the destruction of property.

In an interview with TV3’s Ashanti Region correspondent, Benjamin Aidoo, the University Relations officer, Kwame Yeboah Jnr, said the cost assessed so far does not include stolen items.

“The damage cost has been assessed and it is in the region of GH¢1.6m, GH¢1.7 million. So, if we use the old currency it is about ¢16 to ¢17 billion… these exclude items that were stolen from our offices; both private and public property.”

He explained that the assessment was only on “the facilities that were destroyed, the CCTV cameras, vehicles…”.

He, however, noted that even though the issues in the university are being investigated, some work has begun in cleaning up the vandalized offices and fixing same.

He stated, “we cannot wait for the committee to finish its work”, referring to the Council which is expected to be constituted by the Chancellor, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, latest by Friday, November 2.

As to who, between the students and the University, will bear the cost of damage, Mr. Yeboah said the Council will be expected to look into all those matters and advise.

According to him, the school will resume as soon as possible and that the students will be duly notified if the Council is inaugurated and advises.