The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who’s the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has summoned the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwabena Obiri Danso, the students’ leadership and other stakeholders over Monday’s violent protest that saw the destruction of properties and the subsequent closure of the school.
Bantamahene, Baafour Amankwatia VI, who led members of the Kumasi Traditional Council to the KNUST on behalf of the Asantehene expressed worry about the level of destruction on campus, which he said was unprecedented.
The Bantamahene, who toured campus was unhappy about the use of violence by the students to get their grievances addressed describing the extent of damage as enormous.
Speaking to journalists, he also described the happenings at the University as a ‘disgrace to all Ghanaians.’
“As you know, he [Asantehene] is the Chancellor of the University, and he delegated me to come and see what is happening here. What we have seen upon arrival is a sad one. We have never seen anything of this sort. Students have demonstrated over the years but it has never been this serious. The extent of damage is enormous. All the feuding parties should exercise restraint as the leadership sits with the stakeholders on the way forward.”
“The school has been closed, but not only Ghanaians school here, there are also foreign students here. This is a disgrace for all Ghanaians. We are going to work to ensure the school is re-opened in earnest.”
While calling for calm, the Bantamahene, Baafour Amankwatia VI, said the Kumasi Traditional Council will engage government and the relevant stakeholders to ensure an amicable resolution is reached on the matter.
He also called on the feuding parties to exercise restraint as the Asantehene mitigates the situation.
The Bantamahene on behalf of the Asantehene urged the public to desist from politicizing the current happenings in the University as it can further worsen the situation.
He explained that measures are going to be put in place to forestall similar incidents from recurring at the University.
“We are going to learn from the happenings to ensure such violent demonstrations does not occur again.” he added.
Dozens of students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have left the campus following a directive by the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) that the school be closed down over the violent protest by students on Monday.
Foreign students were however asked to stay behind on campus and subsequently moved into one hall.
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