Asantehene Urges Government to Approve KNUST’s Request for Lecturer Recruitment

Kumasi: The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on the government to grant financial clearance for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to hire additional lecturers. This appeal was made during the 59th congregation for post-graduate students at KNUST, where he addressed the significant lecturer-student ratio disparity currently affecting the university. According to Ghana News Agency, the Asantehene emphasized that hiring more lecturers would alleviate the workload of current faculty members, potentially enhancing the quality of education and academic performance at KNUST. As the chancellor of the university, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II highlighted the current lecturer-student ratio of 1:67, which places a considerable strain on the available academic staff, threatening the quality of education and mentorship necessary to adapt to a rapidly evolving world. While voicing concerns over staffing issues, he also commended the government for fulfilling a GHS 46 million commitment to comp lete the KNUST Teaching Hospital, which is expected to deliver quality healthcare services in the region. Additionally, he acknowledged the government's allocation of USD 38 million through the GETFund for equipping the hospital, which will serve as a training facility for medical students at the university. The Asantehene issued a strong warning regarding unauthorized attempts to encroach on KNUST lands, asserting his intention to protect the land as a legacy for future generations. He declared that no family head or chief holds the right to sell university land, and those engaged in legal battles over it are pursuing a futile cause. He advised legal practitioners to thoroughly investigate land litigation cases related to KNUST before representing them in court. In his address to the graduates, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II urged them to let innovation, integrity, and compassion guide their leadership as they venture into their professional lives. He reminded them that the true value of education lies in the positi ve impact they can have on others.