His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has inaugurated a Three-Member Committee to investigate the students’ demonstration that occurred and led to destruction of University properties on October, 22 2018 and subsequent closure of the University.
The Committee would be led by her Ladyship Justice Rose Owusu, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court. Other members of the Committee are the Very Rev. Mrs. Ama Afo-Blay, first woman Director General of the Ghana Education Service and Mr. David Adu-Osei, Ashanti Regional Director of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI). Mr. Kofi Owusu, Secretary to the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs is the Secretary of the Committee.
In his address, the Chancellor stated that the ceremony is in fulfilment of the promise he made to set up an independent and impartial body to investigate the disturbances that occurred in October. He continued that after a successful inauguration of the University’s Governing Council and resumption of academic work, it was right for the Committee to commence its investigations.
The Chancellor stated that the Committee is made up of very distinguished personalities, whose integrity and standing in society are impeccable. He continued that he had no doubt about the competencies of the members of the Committee in the execution of their mandate.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II therefore called for full support and cooperation of all for the Committee to deliver on its mandate. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are amongst others, to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence on October 22, 2018, determine both the immediate and remote causes of the violence and to make recommendations thereof.
Furthermore, the Committee is to consider all matters pertaining to the administration of the University, which, in the opinion of the Committee, may be relevant to the investigation, and to make such recommendations as may be found necessary to assist the university avert such incidents in future.
The Three-Member Committee were sworn into office by the Chairman of the Governing Council of KNUST, Nana Effah-Apenteng.
Her Ladyship, Justice Rose Owusu on behalf of the Committee thanked the Chancellor for the confidence the Chancellor had in them to execute this task. She stated that the Committee would execute its duty with utmost care, diligence and transparency. She also used the occasion to appeal to all stakeholders to support the Committee and to provide necessary and relevant information to the Committee to facilitate its work.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Nana Effah-Apenteng, was delighted that the Chancellor had fulfilled his promise, to set up an independent committee of enquiry to investigate the disturbances. He said that looking at the history of the University, it had been several decades since such incident happened and hoped the Committee would help prevent such occurrence in the future. He also pledged the Council’s support to the Committee and charged all who appear before the Committee to be honest to aid the work of the committee to come out with accurate findings and to be able to offer good recommendations.
