KNUST Vice-Chancellor selection process halted amidst allegations of political interference

The highly anticipated Governing Council meeting of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), intended to finalize the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor and several College Provosts, was abruptly called off today.

The sudden cancellation has sparked intense speculation regarding external pressures and attempts to influence the university’s internal selection process.

Allegations:

Reports suggest the meeting was postponed following allegations of “extraneous powers” attempting to coerce the Search Committee into altering the interview scores.

Central to the controversy is the performance of Professor Kwabena Britwum Nyarko, the current Provost of the College of Engineering.

Sources indicate that Professor Nyarko emerged as the top candidate after a stellar interview performance, particularly regarding his vision for university governance.

There are now mounting concerns that the delay is a tactical move to prevent his official endorsement.

Competing Interests:

The race for the university’s highest office has reportedly become a battleground for various influential factions:

Political Maneuvering:

Rumors circulated late Thursday suggesting that elements within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are aggressively lobbying for Professor Edward Brenyah.

Religious Influence:

Simultaneously, the Assemblies of God Church is alleged to be leveraging its perceived proximity to the Presidency to champion the candidacy of Professor Christian Agyare.

Manhyia Intervention:

In a bid to de-escalate the rising tensions and protect the university’s stability, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has reportedly intervened.

Instead of the scheduled Council session, the Chairman of the Search Committee and other key stakeholders were summoned to the Manhyia Palace.

This high-level mediation aims to address the friction caused by competing interests and ensure a peaceful transition of power.

Stand for Integrity:

Despite the external pressures, the Chairman of the Search Committee, Justice Sir Dennis, has reportedly remained firm.

Insiders suggest he has resisted multiple attempts to manipulate the results, insisting on a merit-based process.

His reported stance is to maintain the integrity of the original interview scores and present the top three candidates in their earned order of merit for the Council’s final deliberation, a process that traditionally favors the highest-scoring applicant.

This is a developing story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/ Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.