Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
OTUMFUO OSEI Tutu II, the Asantehene has thrown his weight behind the move to convert single-sex halls at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to unisex.
There has been agitations from male students over the decision which led to violet clashes sometimes back, compelling the temporary closure of the University.
But Otumfuo who doubles as Chancellor of KNUST has supported the conversion of the Conti and Katanga Halls.
According to the King, the decision to convert the halls was geared toward increasing the number of female enrolments.
He made the comments at 2018 Special Congregation Ceremony of the KNUST.
He observed that Ghana’s population stands in a ratio of 49:51 in favour of female.”
The Asantehen has urged for the decision for the decision to be supported by all stakeholders including the Alumni body, who have fiercely kicked against the conversion.
Meanwhile, he has cautioned male students against hiding behind tradition to portray rowdy behaviour.
He said universities run on rules and regulations and thus all the students must make sure there is a tolerable environment for every member of the school community.
It would be recalled that the decision to convert the halls was announced to the university community in January 2018 and since then alumni and residents of the all-male halls, University Hall, otherwise called Katanga and their rivals Unity Hall aka Conti have resisted the move.
The alumni filed a suit in court which is pending. An injunction filed by the plaintiffs to prevent the authorities from posting female students to the two previous all-male halls was thrown out.
The school authorities then proceeded to convert the halls and allocated first-year female students to the halls.
The Alumni, however, vowed to fight for the decision to be reversed.
BY Melvin Tarlue