KNUST students boycott matriculation ceremony

Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is to commence investigation into circumstances that led to the boycott of its matriculation for this academic year.

The fresh students, numbering about 600, from the Unity and University Halls, were said to have been instigated by executives of the Halls to boycott the programme for unexplained reasons.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that, just before the matriculation commenced, the executives were said to have mounted a barrier at the entrance of the Halls, threatening to deal with any Level 100 student who dared to be present at the occasion.

When they were finally released by the executives following a warning by the KNUST authorities, the students who were all wearing arm bands, depicting the colours of the two Halls, were all directed to converge at the Great Hall without hesitation for a meeting with the authorities.

This was after the students besieged the matriculation grounds with some few minutes to end proceedings and started chanting anxiously, a development that brought activities to a temporary halt.

Mr. Kobby Yebo-Okrah, the KNUST Registrar, speaking to the media after a meeting with the affected students, said the authorities would take the necessary punitive actions against those whose actions led to the boycott after its investigations.

The matriculation ceremony is significant in the academic calendar of the KNUST, as it officially ushers in the fresh students to be recognized as part of the University community.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Vice-Chancellor, urged the students to read carefully the University’s Students Guide, which contained information about what was expected of them.

He urged them to study hard to realize their educational goals.

In all, 17, 328 students were offered admission for both the undergraduate and post graduate programmes.

Source: GNA