Koforidua, June 20, GNA- The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, has said that, although the University remains the preferred choice of science students in Ghana and much of Africa, it would not relapse in its quest to produce critical and independent-minded students.

Professor Adarkwa said, the present leadership of the University would also not betray the dream of the founding fathers embodied in the charter of the University that mandates it to produce high calibre science products for the development of Ghana and Africa. As a consequence, KNUST is embarking on a major drive to hold discussions with a number of identifying bodies globally towards raising the needed resources necessary for devising home-groomed solutions towards tackling Africa's myriad problems.

Professor Adarkwa said this when he interacted with old students of the University at a well-attended event held at the SSNIT Conference Hall at Koforidua on Wednesday.

The meeting was to appraise the old students on the role they could play in determining the next phase of development of KNUST. Professor Adarkwa said, instead of resting on its oars because it has become the preferred destination of an increasing number of enterprising candidates in Ghana, the University leadership was rather working towards raising quality and enriching its programme to make them relevant to the felt needs of the people.

One of such new programme being introduced in keeping with the vision of the founding fathers, he said, is a course in African philosophy and ethics which is to imbue in its students a sense of leadership and patriotism.

Professor Adarkwa, who expressed satisfaction with the heavy attendance at the meeting entreated old students of KNUST to collectively in collaboration with government, own the school and determine how it is run.

He said that was the only way KNUST could tackle its financial shortfall and raise the needed equity to expand on teaching and learning facilities, build halls of residence and improve on ICT facilities at the university.

The VC also pleaded with the alumni to support the repositioning drive and help make succeeding products more astute and pragmatic in resolving the social and economic problems facing Ghana and the African continent.

In his intervention, Professor Seth Opuni Asiamah, Provost of the College of Architecture and Planning and National President of KNUST Alumni praised the involvement of some old students in the running of the University but said the assistance of many more students would be needed.