THE ASANTEHENE OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II HAS CAUTIONED STUDENTS AGAINST EMBEZZLEMENT

The Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cautioned student leaders to behave themselves with regards to how they manage the affairs of the respective institutions they represent. He was much particular about how some SRC executives embezzle funds which bring about delays in policy implementation.

He made this assertion on Friday, April 13, when speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the first phase of the KNUST SRC Hostel which has been named after him.

He bemoaned the practice whereby some student leaders take up leadership positions as platforms to enrich themselves.

The Asantehene added that, the SRC Hostel project which kick started in 1999, was to be completed in a period of about two or three years but has taken about thirteen years before nearing completion. He attributed this to the fact that, most student leaders embezzle funds.

He said “along the line, I heard about some SRC members messing up with the money and all that: during the interim. I felt like from 1999/2000 up to this stage, when it was started, the old idea was for us to have completed this within a period of about two years or three years and it did continue to about thirteen years for us to be commissioning this. I still will say, I appreciate the contribution of students but we have to caution ourselves that, we come to school to discipline ourselves and to learn the trade of discipline and therefore, when we are charged with the responsibilities, we have to behave ourselves regarding how we manage our affairs.”

He further added that, he is aware of the difficulties students go through and gave the assurance that, all efforts will be made to ensure that, those issues are addressed accordingly. The Asantehene admitted that KNUST can much up to any university in the world and therefore, he deems it necessary to put up every effort to support the University.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. William Otoo Ellis, stated that the university has rules which governs it and will be enforced to the latter .He added that, every student’s main aim is to study therefore, any student who falls  foul to the regulation of the university will be punished accordingly.

OPPONG MARFO EDWARD, FOCUS FM, KNUST