KNUST ALUMNI HOLD 5TH BIENNIAL CONGRESS (PAGE 38)

THE Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni Association (TEKNOKRATS) has held its fifth biennial national congress in Tamale with a call on members to show more commitment and support towards the development of the university.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, who made the call indicated that there was the need to further strengthen the existing collaboration between the old students and their alma mater, “because without the alumni, the future of our university will be doomed.”
He particularly mentioned infrastructure development and the acquisition of teaching and learning materials as some of the areas that would need the intervention of the alumni since the budgetary allocation to those sectors by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had reduced over the past couple of years.
The congress that had the theme: “The role of Teknokrats in easing students’ accommodation cries on campus: so far, how far,” attracted alumni from various parts of the country.
The Vice-Chancellor also enumerated the successes chalked up by the university over the past years and the numerous challenges they were currently encountering in ensuring that KNUST becomes a centre of excellence, not only in the country but globally.
He mentioned some of the ongoing projects, including those on the drawing board and appealed to the government, the alumni, individuals and groups to support the university in its development agenda.
“At the moment we have not received our subvention for the month of March this year, yet the university must run and salaries paid in order that academic work is not disrupted,” Prof. Adarkwa stated.
He said the university was also tackling the growing indiscipline among some students on campus and, therefore, entreated the old students to refrain from interfering in matters of ensuring that disciplinary tenets were upheld at all times “because we will not compromise on discipline; and we should not condone wrongdoing.”
Prof. Adarkwa added that in spite of all those challenges, the KNUST placed 53rd among top African universities. The University of Ghana was the only other higher institution of learning in the country that placed 55th. The rest did not make it in that category.
The university currently has a student population of 24,000 while 1,041 are undergoing the distance learning programme with 724 international students from 27 countries. Fourteen university colleges are affiliated to it in the country.
The immediate past National President of the association, Prof. Seth Opuni Esiamah, said local chapters of the alumni had been established in all 10 regions and some towns. Other countries where the branches are located include the UK, America and Australia.
He urged members to contribute generously towards the completion of the Alumni Jubilee House on campus, adding, “The university has been faithful to us over the years and we need to return the favour.”
The outgoing president who has served for the past four years, urged the incoming executive to continue with the membership mobilisation drive by the association. The new National President is Mr Tony Danklu, a Tema-based businessman.
The Northern Regional Chairman of the alumni, Mr Adam Kaleem, underlined the immense contribution of members to the development of the country and advised the younger ones to work harder to achieve greater heights in their respective carreers.