The brewing tension at KNUST; Beware the Ides of October….
Less than a month after the investiture of a new Vice-Chancellor, the Governing Council of KNUST has decided to end a practice that has been part of KNUST's academic governance for generations: faculty will no longer elect their own Deans and Pro-Vice-Chancellors. They will be appointed. The timing alone should make everyone pause. A new administration has barely settled in, and already one of…
Just days after KNUST's new Vice-Chancellor took office, the governing body has decided to eliminate a tradition stretching back generations: faculty members will no longer elect their own Deans and Pro-Vice-Chancellors. Instead, these positions will be appointed. The change, occurring so soon after a fresh administration settled in, has struck a nerve.
The Governing Council's decision comes despite formal petitions from major staff unions, including UTAG, GAUA, and TEWU-TUC, who strongly oppose the move. This is not merely a procedural shift; it represents a transfer of power from academics to central authority. The history of academic involvement in governance has produced trusted leaders, like Professors Rita Dickson, Otoo Ellis, Adarkwa, and Odai.
Fixing existing issues is suggested, but completely abolishing faculty participation risks eroding trust. Historically, Ghanaians have the right to choose their President, yet at KNUST, academics and administrators are being stripped of their role in selecting leaders. Lessons from a past crisis in October 2018, where a disagreement led to disruption, destruction, and closure, weigh heavily.
Good governance involves listening, consulting, and reconsidering. KNUST's recent restoration of its academic calendar highlights the urgency to avoid another confrontation that could harm students, lecturers, researchers, and the university's reputation. The institution needs dialogue, not another repeat of October 2018.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
