Students welcome dissolution of KNUST Council

A section of students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have welcomed the decision by government to dissolve the Governing Council of the university.

Some students who spoke in an interview with Class News’ Ashanti Regional Correspondent shortly after the announcement on an Interim Council expressed delight that measures have been instituted to address their grievances.

The students lauded the swift action by government to ensure that they return to campus within 14 days following the shutdown of the institution and imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew.

“I think I'll like to commend government on the initiative that they have taken because it'll calm the hullabaloo. I’m very happy that students are coming within 14 days…” a female student said.

A male student who expressed his view said: “Having new people is like a breath of fresh air”.

A statement issued earlier by Mr Ekow Vincent Assafuah, PRO, Ministry of Education, said in the stead of the dissolved council, a 7-member Interim Council has been put in place to run the school.

The Interim Council, chaired by Nana Effah Apenteng, Paramount Chief of the Bompata Traditional Area, has a three-month tenure.

This follows briefs and recommendations made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, after he led a high-powered delegation, including the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah; and the Minister-Designate of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, to Kumasi.

On Monday, 22 October 2018, there were disturbances on the campus of KNUST during which properties were vandalised.

The university was subsequently shut down indefinitely upon the advice of the Regional Security Council.