KNUST To Probe Special Rituals At Halls

Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are investigating circumstances that led to some fresh men and women unable to take the matriculation oath, which officially and mandatory enable them to become part of the university community.

More than 2000 students failed to attend matriculation ceremony last Saturday.

The fresh students, mainly from the Unity (Continental) and University (popularly known as Katanga) halls were alleged to have been locked up and threatened to be dealt with by executives of the respective halls, early in the morning.

The action of the executive was ostensibly due to them wanting to perform some traditional rituals for the freshers to signify their welcome to their halls of residence.

When the new students were finally released with arm bands, portraying colours of the two halls, they surrounded the matriculation grounds in long queues chanting their respective hall anthems, with some few minutes to the end of the matriculation ceremony.

This development angered the authorities of the university, who ordered the university security personnel to round up and assemble all the affected students to the Great Hall for a meeting with the authorities.

Mr. Kobby Yebo-Okrah, the Registrar of KNUST, addressing newsmen after the short meeting with the affected students, said they were investigating to know what caused their delay so that “we do not have this thing repeated again.”

The Registrar who resisted several attempts to comment on whether the affected students were recognized as part of the university community since they had not taken their matriculation oath finally stated that, “for now they are students of the university.”

When quizzed on whether any punitive action would be taken against the affected students, Mr Okrah said “the university will administer everything to them when an orientation programme for all first year students which is expected to begin on Wednesday is over.”

Advising the affected students, Prof Owusu Daaku, KNUST Dean of Students said “the kind of things you are carrying on there, you do not understand,” he urged them to be careful with the kind of things they get themselves into in the name of tradition.

Prof William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of the University, appealed to students to read carefully the University’s Students Guide which contained information on what was required of them, whilst on campus.

He urged them to take advantage of the various study resources such as the libraries and ICT centres on campus.

A total of 17,328 students were offered admission for both undergraduate and postgraduates out of which 9,544 (including 95 students from Less Endowed Senior High schools) accepted and were matriculated.