Kumasi, Feb. 12, GNA - The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) dismissed 16 students for presenting forged West African Examination Council Senior Secondary School Certificate results and poor academic performance.

Professor Kwesi Andam, Vice Chancellor of the University, who disclosed this, said nine of the students were dismissed for presenting forged results and seven were dismissed for poor academic performance. Presenting his State of the University address in Kumasi on Wednesday, he said eight students were interdicted for being truants and said these were part of measures to instil discipline in the students. Professor Andam said 17 junior and senior staff members of the University were also either dismissed or had their appointments terminated for various offences, adding that some of the offences bordered on criminality.

He said the University was making efforts to strengthen the academic staff and this led to a trip to the United Kingdom (UK) from the University to interview about 14 lecturers and appoint them to the Departments of Biochemistry, Land Economy, Sociology, Economics and Industrial Management.

The University, Professor Andam said was also constructing fence walls around some of the vulnerable areas along its boundaries as a means of curbing the activities of criminals on campus and that there were plans to install close circuit television and other visual security equipment to cover certain sensitive areas on campus. He warned members of staff not to engage in fraudulent deals in the admission process since any member who would be caught would not be spared.