Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have reacted to reports linking a former Geography and Rural Development student to Islamic jihadist group, ISIS.

Nazir Nortei Alema, 25, is reported to have joined the ranks of the terrorist organisation and is one of about 10 suspected Muslim youth from Ghana believed to have been convinced by the ideological propagation of the group.

Addressing the First Oath-Swearing and Induction Ceremony for some 10 newly-qualified Veterinary Doctors from the University on Saturday, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor William Otoo Ellis, said whatever decision Alema took was based on his own conviction.

“I would want to make a passionate appeal to stakeholders to be circumspect to separate personal decisions made by an individual from that of the institution, especially after the individual is no more a student of the University.

“The individual in question has completed his course or professional training and is graduated. We do our best to give them the best of training and inculcate in them good moral values and commitment to the cause of humanity.

“This is to ensure that their activities do not contravene ethical standards to advance social harmony and peaceful co-existence,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor affirmed the University’s resolve to maintain its hard-won reputation through strict adherence to laid down rules and regulations by students and faculty members.

The induction ceremony was supervised by the Veterinary Council of Ghana.

This is the first time the nation is graduating its maiden locally-trained Veterinarians.

The nation has an acute shortage of Veterinarians with less than 200 of them currently working in Ghana which had over the years relied on Eastern European countries, Cuba, Nigeria and Kenya to train Veterinary doctors.