The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on the government to grant financial clearance to allow the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to recruit additional lecturers, aiming to reduce the current wide lecturer–student ratio.
Addressing participants at the 59th congregation of post-graduate students at KNUST in Kumasi, Otumfuo Osei Tutu emphasized that increasing lecturer numbers would ease the burden on existing faculty, enhance teaching and learning quality, and boost students’ academic performance.
The university currently faces a lecturer-to-student ratio of 1:67, which he warned threatens the quality of education and mentorship needed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Get the latest news, updates by joining our WhatsApp channel here: Join on WhatsApp.
During the ceremony, 221 post-graduate students were awarded Doctor of Philosophy degrees, while six individuals received honorary degrees.
The Asantehene also commended the government for fulfilling a GHS 46 million commitment to complete construction of the KNUST Teaching Hospital and for releasing USD 38 million through the GETFund to furnish it with essential healthcare equipment.
He noted the hospital will serve as both a training ground for medical students and a provider of quality healthcare in the region and beyond.
In a stern warning, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II vowed to protect KNUST lands from encroachment, describing them as a sacred legacy for the benefit of future generations.
He clarified that no family head or chief has the authority to sell the university’s land, labeling ongoing court disputes over portions of the property as “a lost battle.” He advised lawyers to investigate land cases thoroughly before taking them on.
Concluding his address, the Asantehene encouraged graduates to let innovation, integrity, and compassion guide their leadership as they enter the wider world.
“The true measure of education lies not in personal gain alone, but in the light you bring into the lives of others,” he said.
