NPP DENIES KNUST VC COUP

THE RULING New Patriotic Party (NPP) has debunked speculations that it had a grand agenda to kick out the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Obiri-Danso, from office.

According to the ruling party, there was no such intentions to abruptly end the tenure of the beleaguered VC, and urged the public to treat such speculations with contempt.

The National Youth Organizer of the party, Henry Nana Boakye, who made the disclosure, said it was also never true that the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government was clandestinely working to sabotage the VC.

Prof. Obiri-Danso had recently come under intense fire after the university was closed down following a one-day violent protest by rampaging students, who destroyed several properties of lecturers, including vehicles, computers and other items.

From grapevine sources, the decision of the university management to turn two male halls into unisex halls resulted in the violent protests by the students.

Since the violent demonstrations, several NPP bigwigs, including Nana Boakye, have publicly called for Prof. Obiri-Danso’s head. This prompted some political pundits to insinuate that the ruling party had suspected Prof.Obiri-Danso of being a National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporter, and thus wanted him booted out of office at all cost.

But reacting to the rumours on Nhyira FM, Nana ‘B’ contended that the NPP government was being wrongly accused without justification. According to him, the VC had come under fire because there was leadership crisis at KNUST.

He, however, noted that if the ousting of the professor would lead to peace and smooth resumption of academic work at the university, then he as an individual was in support of it.

FROM Akwasi Boakye

Kumasi