Lecturers do not carry guns to campus – KNUST dismisses report

Management of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has rubbished a publication by the Chronicle newspaper which suggested that lecturers of the institution have resorted to the use of guns to protect themselves from being attacked by students.

The newspaper had reported that lecturers were yet to recover from the shock they had last year following the violence which ensued during a demonstration by students to register their displeasure as regards management’s decision to convert University Hall (Katanga) from an all-male hall to mixed.

The said publication quoted President of the local chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Prof Charles Marfo, to have said on Kumasi-based Pure FM that some lecturers, including himself, had decided to carry their registered weapons anytime they go to the campus to lecture, because they are afraid of being attacked.

“Do you know that after that, there are lecturers who come to the office with their weapons in their cars? I’m telling you today. Yes, if I have registered my gun, then if I’m coming to class, I have to bring it along because the child I thought was a kid says he isn’t, he can set my car ablaze. Kwame, are you saying we need to celebrate? I can tell you confidently I am one of them. I feel like every student involved must apologise. I know a lecturer who still fears for his life. What kind of life is this?” he reportedly said.

But a statement issued by Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, University Relations Officer, KNUST said the claims are false.

“It is on record that the radio station where the statement is alleged to have been made has issued a disclaimer stating the news was untrue,” the statement read.

The university has assured students and the general public that, “The university community is very peaceful; all students and staff are busy going about their normal activities, without any hindrance.”