As Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) gears up for a pivotal week of vice-chancellor interviews, whispers of religious lobbying are threatening to overshadow the contest for one of Ghana’s most critical academic leadership roles.
Sources close to the process allege that leaders of the Assemblies of God Church are pressing President John Dramani Mahama a fellow congregant to back Prof. Samuel Asare-Nkansah, one of 10 shortlisted candidates.
Asare-Nkansah, a church member and personal friend of General Superintendent Rev. Wemgam, worships at the same Ring Road branch the president frequents.
The push, insiders claim, aims to secure a presidential nod that could tip the scales with KNUST’s Governing Council, even as interviews kick off Monday.
The rumors have also fueled misinformation targeting frontrunner Prof. Christian Agyare, with false claims online branding him an Assemblies of God affiliate.
Kumasimail investigations confirm otherwise: Agyare has been a devoted member of Bethel Methodist Church in Kwadaso since 1994, rising to Men’s Fellowship leader and church elder by 2005.
Allies say his stellar credentials from groundbreaking research to administrative prowess make him a prime target for rivals’ smears.
Why KNUST’s Next Leader Must Prioritize Merit Over Ties
This isn’t just an academic appointment; it’s stewardship of a thriving ecosystem rivaling Ghana’s mid-sized cities.
• Massive Scale: Over 85,000 students demand visionary oversight, outnumbering residents in many districts.
• Economic Engine: A multi-million cedi budget funds sprawling campuses, staff of thousands, and innovations in science and tech.
• Global Stakes: The vice-chancellor must drive research breakthroughs, digital transformation, and climbs in world rankings all while upholding unassailable integrity.
Faculty voices echo the alarm. “KNUST thrives as a secular powerhouse,” one anonymous professor told Kumasimail. “We need a leader to harness 80,000 minds and a municipal-scale economy, not one picked by Sunday affiliations.”
Source: www.Kumasimail.com
