KNUST Gets Youngest VC
THE KWAME Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has not only gone through one of the most keenly contested vice-chancellorship races, but has also picked the youngest vice chancellor(V-C) in the country.
A committee tasked to pick a new V-C for the nation's premier Science and Technology University in April this year, after critical analyses, picked Professor William Otoo Ellis out of eleven applicants for the position.
The 50-year-old food scientist, who has worked with the Food Science and Technology Section of the Biochemistry Department of the University for 13 years, was until his appointment, the head of the department and a Pro-Vice Chancellor.
He scored 612 out of 700 marks to beat his ten other contenders, namely; Prof. Edward Tsiri Agbenyega (584), Prof. Abeeku Brew-Hammond (547), Prof. Mahama Duwiejua (535), Prof. Robert Kwame Nkum (492), Prof. Peter Donkor (484), Prof. Edward Badu (458), Prof. Isaac Kwame Dontwi (443), Prof. Esi Awuah (441), Prof. Sampson Kwaku Agbodzo (435) and Prof. Samuel Kofi Afrani (433).
The search committee that named him comprised Nana Susubribi Krobea Asante (Chairman), Paul Effah, Mrs. Margaret Benneh, Kwame Saarah-Mensah, Prof. Merlin L.K. Mensah, Ms. Eunice Akosua Ofosua Amoako and Prof. Anthony Adimado.
They assessed the applicants based on their academic stature, vision, leadership qualities and resource mobilization.
The Professor of biochemistry and biotechnology attained full professorial status at a comparatively young age of 47 years.
The committee said it was highly impressed by the scope and substance of his vision, leadership quality and demonstrable capacity to mobilize resources for research and projects.
Even though he fell below the stellar performance of Prof Ellis, Prof. Agbenyega, head of the Physiology Department, who came second with 584 marks, impressed the committee with his commanding physical presence and well-packaged and meticulous application.
The final report said his stature as a world renowned scholar is unimpeachable, and was not surprised that he topped the academic stature and resource mobilization criteria.
His main weakness, according to the committee, was that he failed to demonstrate a firm grasp of issues relating to science and technology for development in the country.
For scoring 78% and 76% respectively, the performances of Professors Brew-Hammond and Duwiejua were said to be impressive, more so when they were able to beat some 'full' professors.
DAILY GUIDE gathered from quite reliable sources that there were a lot of permutations including some string-pulling, from several interest groups.
The paper gathered that Prof. Agbenyega, for instance, would have carried the day, but for his persistent refusal to contest for the pro vice-chancellorship position.
Unconfirmed information said while the Ashanti caucus and power brokers close to the Ashanti kingdom rooted for Professor Badu so that he would help protect the interest of the KNUST landlords, Professor Brew-Hammond had the backing of some stalwarts in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
The new V-C obtained a PhD Degree in Food Science from McGill University, Canada, in 1993, having graduated with BSc Biochemistry, Second Class Upper from KNUST in 1987. Prof. Ellis also holds a certificate in High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Applications from Beckman Instruments Incorporated, Canada, 1990; Certificate in Principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) from National Resources Institute, Britain, 2001; and Certificate in Cassava Production and Processing from EMBRAPA, Brazil, 2005. Prof Ellis has a wife and two children. His hobbies include athletics and playing of lawn tennis.