Government has taken a firm stance on who should be on the new governing council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and it has made it clear that no old member of the council will accepted into the new one.
A statement from the Ministry of Information detailing an update on the KNUST matter read in part ‘’Government can confirm to you that government’s position on the membership of the new council is that; individuals who sat on the old council ought not to be on the new council.’’
The statement continued ‘’the old council is a party to the impasse. Just as the actions of students, student leaders and school management will be subjects of the full investigation when the University is reopened, so will the actions and inactions of the old council be the subject of that investigation. The specific persons who constituted that council cannot therefore preside over the matters in which their own decisions and conduct will be a subject.’’
The statement further assured that the University will reopen on the scheduled date of November 8, 2018.
See the full text of the statement as issued by the Ministry below.
UPDATE ON THE KNUST SAGA
Government remains committed to have the KNUST reopened by Thursday Nov 8, 2018.
As you will recall the outbreak of violence and destruction of property following the students demonstration of October 22 is what compelled government to intervene with a series of Emergency and Interim measures on the University campus.
Though the Interim council was given up to three months, government’s subsequent assessment is that it can hand over the University and all emergency measures taken to a new council, earlier than expected, if one is agreed upon and inaugurated as soon as possible. Government has indicated its new members for the KNUST council. It is our understanding that two other groups (CHASS and NCTE) have also done so.
Our expectation is that once the office of the chancellor receives the full compliment of names, the office will refer them to the appointing Authority, the President, for the next steps. Next steps are council of state approval and final Inauguration by the appointing Authority.
Regrettably we missed the Friday November 1 timeline but we are hopeful all parties will cooperate so we can inaugurate a new council and hand over all interim and emergency measures to it.
Government can confirm to you that government’s position on the membership of the new council is that; individuals who sat on the old council ought not to be on the new council.
This is because;
The old council is a party to the impasse. Just as the actions of students, student leaders and school management will be subjects of the full investigation when the University is reopened, so will the actions and inactions of the old council be the subject of that investigation. The specific persons who constituted that council cannot therefore preside over the matters in which their own decisions and conduct will be a subject.
It is in this spirit that government and some other groups have already indicated new nominees.
In the matter of group seats on council, The KNUST act requires representatives from groups. It does not ask for specific individuals Government is not interested in deciding which specific individuals they nominate. The principle of specific persons who will end up becoming judges in their own cause is what government disagrees with.
It is precisely to resolve this disagreement that the chancellor is taking leadership in engaging with all nominating groups.
We look forward to bringing a quick resolution to this matter once all parties cooperate with us.
#TogetherWeShallTransformGhana
Source: BestNewsGH.com
