KNUST Alumini in UK Launched

The Kwame Nkrumah University for Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni Association, United Kingdom and Ireland branch has been launched in London.

The launch of the UK branch of KNUST Alumni was performed by Professor Kwesi Andam, the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST as part of the first KNUST Alumni Congress in Europe. The Congress was held under the theme 'The Role and Place of the Alumni in Enhancing Higher Education in Ghana'.

The historic event which followed the launch of KNUST Alumni Association in Houston (USA) last year climaxed a programme initiated by the KNUST authorities to link up the school's over 30,000 alumni in support of the operations of the University.

Present at the Congress were Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK, Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Professor K. K. Adarkwa, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, KNUST, Professor S.O. Asiama, General Secretary, KNUST Alumni Association, Mr. Kobby Mensa-Kuma, Interim President of UK KNUST Alumni Association and his executives, Deans of KNUST Faculties, KNUST Alumni as well as friends of KNUST.

Launching the Alumni, Professor Andam explained that the Association would afford the KNUST Alumni in Europe the opportunity to network and forge the 'family ties' that would enable them marshal resources to develop their alma mater.

'As obtains in other parts of the world where Alumni make an input in funding and policy drive of their schools, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that 'the time had come for KNUST to collaborate effectively with its Alumni to maintain its enviable position as Ghana's leading four star university.

He therefore urged members of the Association to diligently commit themselves to the challenge to enable them come up with innovations that could be adopted for use by other Alumni Associations of the University.

On his part, High Commissioner Osei observed that the role of the alumni in enhancing higher education depended on how well they use their skills and the knowledge they had acquired for the benefit of the wider community.

'For in demonstrating the usefulness of education, they help stoke up the fires and desire in succeeding generations for higher education with which the process of development cannot be enhanced' observed the High Commissioner.

He said the Alumni would be required to evolve and pursue implementations of long-term projects that would enable them 'help rehabilitate and expand old halls of residence as well as lecture halls, establish endowment funds and academic chairs for the benefit of their alma mater'.

A dinner dance was also held in London to round off the inauguration of KNUST Alumni UK. An amount of £3,050 was mobilised at the function to support the KNUST.