KNUST reopens today as lectures start on Monday

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has finally re-opened today November 16 after it was closed down some three weeks ago.

The closure was as a result of students embarking on a violent demonstration against what they describe as oppression from the school authorities.

This development led to the dissolution of the school’s governing council but after several weeks and deliberations, a new council has been reconstituted and academic work is set to begin.

The students will be returning to a significantly altered academic calendar which will see them write their exams after a Christmas break.

Lectures have already expressed satisfaction with the turn of events that led to the school being reopened.

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) said it will ensure that its members will work to recover the time lost, and called off the strike it had started over the dissolution of the KNUST Governing Council.

The new council

The new members comprise Nana Effah Apenteng, a retired diplomat and Omanhene of Bompata traditional Area; Hilda Hagar Ampadu, public health specialist, Stephen Anoff Amoaning-Yankson, President of the Ghana Institute of Engineers, Alex Quaynor, a private legal practitioner, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah and Alhaji Yakub A.B. Abubakar.

Background

The protests started after the arrest of 10 students and one alumnus of the school.

The students were arrested for holding a vigil on campus without permission, according to the school authorities.

The Executive Council of the SRC said the demonstration was needed to convey students’ frustration over disrespect and oppression by the school.

The Police arrested 20 students following the protest which turned violent. A day later, the school was closed down indefinitely.

The destruction caused to over forty lecturers’ cars alone excluding damage to university properties, was estimated at GHc 1.6 million.