Otumfuo sets up committee to investigate vandalism at KNUST

General News of Saturday, February 2, 2019

Source: 3news.com

2019-02-02

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II set up a committee composed of 3 members to independently investigate the unrest that has rocked the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and led to the temporary closure of the school at the end of last year.

A peaceful demonstration of students last October to protest what they called mistreatment by school authorities and security personnel turned violent, leading to the destruction of school property.

It was after a student was reportedly bullied by University security men.

The tension that prevailed at the time required school authorities to send students home. The board of directors subsequently dissolves the government, which sets up an interim council responsible in particular to ensure the reopening of the school and to establish the cause of the violence. .

On the back, Assantehene, Chancellor of KNUST, set up a committee to investigate the events leading up to the demonstration.

Under the chairmanship of Judge Rose Constance Owusu, retired judge of the Supreme Court, the committee, which will begin its work next week, should conduct a thorough investigation of the issue and propose solutions to prevent such incidents from occurring. again.

"The Committee will have to thoroughly investigate the event surrounding the tragedy of October 22, 2018, and its report should help us chart the course for a future that will not allow us to repeat this embarrbading episode.

"The committee will be independent and will have the freedom to do its job without any interference," Asantehene said.

Otumfuo said this Saturday in front of a special congregation for the masters and doctoral degrees of the University.

He described vandalism as unhappy and unimaginable in the image of the University.

He cautioned, however, that any culture or tradition that does not conform to university regulations would not be diverted.

"Let me emphasize that universities are subject to regulations aimed at making the academic space tolerable for all; the order must be respected and the rules followed to allow our 55,000 students to have the freedom to operate without being intimidated.

"The obscene behavior of students in the presence of female students in the name of culture and traditions can not be justified under any circumstances. As long as I remain Chancellor, the laws and constitutive acts of the University will always remain supreme, "said Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II.