DON'T BLAME KNUST FOR NAZIR'S DECISION -URO

  Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology say there is the need to keep closer watch activities of students on campus and also tighten security arrangement to protect members of the university community against anti social activities within the university’s precincts. 

Additionally, it has become imperative for management to consider improving the background check of its students so as to ward off any unwanted character from coming into contact with innocent students or staff. 

The Head of the University Relations Office, Vincent Ankamah-Lomotey, said these in an interview with Ashanti Today in Kumasi. 

The interview was to elicit KNUST’s reaction to news that one of their products has joined the dreaded militant group, Islamic State popularly known as I.S. 

Mr. Ankamah-Lomotey said the University community heard news of the young man’s adventure through the local media and took almost everybody by surprise since there is no known trace to any existing group that breeds such characters.

 The KNUST has pledged its readiness to assist the National Security Secretariat to unravel anything relating to the 25 year old Geography and Rural Development graduate, Nazir Alema who purports to have opted to join the I.S and also to find out if there are anymore such characters on the premises of the University. 

The University relations officer noted that the purported action of Master Alema would not negatively affect the reputation of the KNUST which is a globally acclaimed science and technology-oriented institution saying that the school cannot be blamed for the actions of the young man. 

This is because the university has fully discharged its responsibility of imbibing in its students high ethical, moral and academic values to be responsible members of the larger society. 

According to Mr. Ankamah-Lomotey, in spite of the stringent internal security management on campus, management cannot vouch that the arrangement is fool proof particularly when just about 30 percent of the 45 thousand students live on campus and have their activities closely monitored.

 He described the purported decision of Master Alema as sad and disappointing considering the fact that his mates have described him as being very calm and unassuming while in school.

 Mr. Ankamah-Lomotey appealed to all stakeholders f the KNUST, especially parents and guardians to also take keen interest in the holistic development of their wards and not leave everything on the school authorities alone. 

Meanwhile, sampled opinions of the students of KNUST revealed that the students have divergent views and reactions to the news. 

While some of them said Master Alema’s purported decision is nothing surprising in view of the fact that everybody has the freedom to make personal choices, others believe that the story is made up or that the man in the centre of affairs is only playing on the emotions of the people just to court public attention and sympathy. 

There is yet another group that thinks that the issue is very serious and must be taken as such because students of the university could come under the periscope of the international security such that their movement and opportunities could be restricted.