KNUST IMPASSE UPDATE: GOV'T. BITES MORE THAN IT CAN CHEW

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The much anticipated re-composition and inauguration of a governing Council for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, could not take place in Kumasi despite the readiness of representatives all the constituent groups save those by the government.

The other nominees went to the Manhyia Palace where they waited for hours hoping for the government’s nominees to be announced to complete the list for the eventual outdooring, but had to return to campus much disappointed.

Ashanti Today had earlier picked information from reliable sources that the government had rejected representatives of the University Teachers Association, UTAG, the Students Representatives, SRC and the Teachers and Education Workers Union, TEWU for reasons yet to be established. However, those groups insisted that their reps, selected through established mechanisms including election in some instances, have fixed terms to be on the University Council which was unlawfully truncated by the government last week.

Sources within these groups are again revealing that, they are not ready to kowtow to the whims and caprices of the government which they suspect is planning something to achieve its set aim.

Signals picked up by Ashanti Today suggest that the groups are peeved and plan to take decisions that could drawback the progress made so far. For instance, credible information received indicated that TEWU plans to hit the streets again anytime from Monday, November 5, 2018 to protest against the stance of government to unduly interfere with the independence of the Union which is the legal mouthpiece of all junior staff of the University.

As things stand now, until government changes its position and releases its four representatives, the proposed re-opening date of the university could be hampered and further aggravate the frustration of students and parents.

The KNUST should have an 11-member governing Council with four of them representing the government one of whom becomes the Chairman. The other seven represent recognized professional and other interest groups of the university such as UTAG, TEWU, SRC and GRASAG as well as the Vice Chancellor with the Registrar as Secretary. These groups reserve the right to determine the mode of selecting their representatives on the Council. There are other officials of the institution without voting right. They include the Director of Finance.

The Council meets, at least once every three months during which the Vice Chancellor presents report of day-to-day activities to them for consideration.

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