Otumfuo cautions chiefs, individuals against claiming KNUST lands
The Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned chiefs, individuals and other interested parties against laying claim to lands belonging to the university.
Speaking at events marking KNUST’s 75th anniversary, the Asantehene stressed that the university’s lands are vested in the stools and legally reserved for the institution’s use, insisting that no individual has ownership rights over them.
He warned that anyone who supports attempts to challenge KNUST’s ownership of its lands in court does so at their own risk.
Otumfuo also expressed concern over the growing number of legal disputes involving KNUST lands, questioning why some lawyers continue to take up such cases despite what he described as the clear ownership status of the property.
“The land belongs to the Golden Stool. The chiefs are caretakers; no family owns the land. The lands are all vested in the stools,” he said.
He alleged that some individuals, both within and outside the university community, were colluding to pursue court judgments over portions of KNUST land for personal gain.
“Anyone within the university or thereabouts who condones with people to take matters of land to court just because they can get a judgment over more than 1,000 acres of university land and go and sell it, I say no,” he stated.
The Asantehene further criticised legal practitioners who support such claims, arguing that professionals should exercise due diligence before pursuing cases involving lands designated for educational institutions.
“There is collusion both within and outside. I wonder why some lawyers would want to do that when they are trained professionals and someone comes to them claiming ownership of university land, and they support that person to go to court,” he added.
