Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has gained great recognition in the world as it is known for its undisputable delivery of quality education to its students. It is also known for the positive impact it has in Ghana and the world since most of its alumni are great leaders who are shaping and making the world a better place for everyone. Among the most recognized people from knust is Thomas O. Mensah. He completed his undergraduate studies in chemical engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and contributed to the development of fiber optic manufacturing and nanotechnology. This web post explores some history of KNUST including how it was founded and how old is KNUST.
HISTORY OF KNUST
Before we delve into the age of knust, let us brief you on the history of knust so you have an overview of how everything started and the struggles behind its success.
The vision of knust coming into existence was first revealed to Agyeman Prempeh I, who was a ruler in the Ashanti kingdom. He was the first person to have the idea of establishing a university in Kumasi. Agyeman Prempeh I was not able to establish a university in Kumasi by himself due to a clash between him and the British Empire; both factions had different objectives. The good news is that after his time as ruler, his younger brother, King Agyeman Prempeh II, who was his successor, continued with his plan. Some events in the 1940s went well for him, and those led to the execution of his brother’s plan. One of the events was the establishment of the University College of the Gold Coast, followed by the 1948 Accra riots. These two events led to the Watson Commission report, which recommended that a university of sciences be set up in Kumasi.
Buildings for the Kumasi College of Technology (KNUST, first name) started in 1949. The Kumasi College of Technology admitted its first set of students to the engineering faculty in 1951. The college had its legal basis through an Act of Parliament as the Kumasi College of Technology in 1952, so those who were admitted in 1951 started their academic work in 1952. 200 teacher-training students formed the core of the college, and those students were from Achimota College in the Greater Region. Kumasi College of Technology was affiliated with the University of London, and in 1961, the college gained full university status.
In 1953, teacher training students were transferred from the formal school of pharmacy at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra to establish the pharmacy department at Kumasi College of Technology. In the same year, a department of agriculture was set up, and the other departments also followed in the subsequent years. The college was then decided to be a full science and technology institution as it was expanding. For this reason, some colleges were transferred from the Kumasi College of Technology. For instance, the Commerce Department was transferred to Achimota.
The Government of Ghana elected a commission in December 1960 to help it make decisions for developing university education in Ghana. From this plan from the Ghanaian government, the Kumasi College of Technology was transformed into a full university, and the name became Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology by an Act of Parliament on August 22, 1961.
HOW OLD IS KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
From the brief history of knust above, we can deduce that Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (knust) is 71 years old.
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