The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Professor Christian Agyare, has engaged key stakeholders in Ghana’s education, regulatory and pharmaceutical sectors as part of efforts to strengthen partnerships and advance the University’s contribution to national development.

Professor Agyare’s engagements included courtesy calls on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector.

The meetings focused on quality assurance, institutional development, science and technology education, infrastructure development, healthcare training, research collaboration and emerging technologies.

KNUST, GTEC discuss quality assurance and artificial intelligence

During a meeting with the Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, at the Commission’s headquarters in Accra, Professor Agyare expressed appreciation for GTEC’s continued support and guidance to KNUST, describing the Commission as a key partner in the University’s pursuit of academic excellence.

He said KNUST was prioritising the adoption of artificial intelligence across teaching, research and administrative functions to remain responsive to the changing needs of students, industry and society.

Professor Agyare reaffirmed the University’s commitment to maintaining high standards in tertiary education and pledged continued adherence to GTEC’s regulatory guidance in advancing education, research and innovation.

Professor Jinapor congratulated Professor Agyare on his appointment and commended KNUST for its leadership in science, technology, engineering and innovation.

He encouraged the University to expand academic programmes in science and technology that respond to Ghana’s development needs, particularly in emerging fields that support industrialisation and economic transformation.

"As an institution established with a strong science and technology mandate, KNUST has a unique responsibility to produce the skilled human capital needed to drive Ghana's technological and industrial development," Professor Jinapor said.

The meeting also discussed KNUST’s planned migration to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database (IPPD2).

Professor Agyare appealed to GTEC to support the University’s engagement with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to ensure a smooth transition, noting that the migration would strengthen payroll administration, improve financial management and address operational challenges.

Professor Jinapor assured the Vice-Chancellor of GTEC’s readiness to engage relevant stakeholders to facilitate the transition.

VCG pledges support for new KNUST administration

At the Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG), Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) and Chair of the VCG, welcomed Professor Agyare and said the visit reflected the importance of collaboration among university leaders.

He said Vice-Chancellors had responsibilities beyond managing individual institutions and had a collective role in strengthening higher education and Ghana’s socio-economic development.

“As Vice-Chancellors, we have an enormous responsibility. We are not only concerned with managing the education of our own institutions; we also have a collective role in ensuring the development of higher education in Ghana and, by extension, socio-economic development,” Professor Asare-Bediako said.

He noted that universities faced common challenges, including digital transformation, funding constraints and graduate employability, which required collective action and knowledge sharing.

“VCG is your home, and you are welcome at any time. Any challenge that you confront with, our doors are open. Together, we need to address where we can support and where we need to collaborate,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the VCG, Dr Sena Kpeglo-Freiku, said the organisation had become increasingly relevant in national education policy discussions.

“We have been invited to curriculum reviews and programmes. We are also invited to policy initiatives within the general education sector,” he said.

He explained that the VCG relied on the expertise of Vice-Chancellors to contribute to policy initiatives, boards, councils and committees.

“When it is subject-specific, and we have experts like you, then we easily say that the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST can join that team and do that for us,” Dr Kpeglo-Freiku said.

Professor Agyare expressed appreciation to the VCG leadership and members for their support and pledged KNUST’s commitment to contributing expertise and resources to the organisation.

“As you indicated, we will try and make sure that we also put in our best and our inputs to make sure that we remain relevant and impactful. We are going to make sure we tap into the bureau as well,” he said.

GETFund engagement focuses on Teaching Hospital completion

Professor Agyare also paid a courtesy call on the Administrator of GETFund, Mr Paul Adjei, to discuss areas of collaboration, particularly infrastructure development.

The engagement focused on support towards the completion of the KNUST Teaching Hospital, which is expected to enhance healthcare delivery, clinical training and research at the University.

KNUST deepens pharmaceutical sector collaboration

Professor Agyare also met stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), where the President of the Society, Dr Paul Owusu Donkor, expressed appreciation for the recognition given to pharmacy professionals during the Vice-Chancellor’s investiture.

“I am particularly glad and grateful to you for the recognition you gave us when we came for your investiture. Right from when you started your address until you concluded, you gave the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana the mileage it deserves,” Dr Donkor said.

He pledged PSGH’s support towards strengthening the KNUST alumni network and improving engagement among graduates.

“We want to pledge our support to you that PSGH will want to offer the alumni group the visibility it desires and the connection it wants to see in bringing all alumni within KNUST together because a stronger alumni means a stronger institution,” he added.

The Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Dominic Korsah Otchere, commended KNUST for its leadership in pharmacy education and urged the University to continue setting the pace in the sector.

“The fact that you said that when it comes to pharmacy education, KNUST was the best means it is supposed to continue to lead pharmacy practice and pharmacy education in the country,” Dr Otchere said.

The Director of Pharmacy at the Ministry of Health, Dr Saviour Yevutsey, expressed interest in KNUST’s mindset transformation agenda, saying institutional change required a shift in attitudes and leadership approaches.

“We cannot continue practicing the same way. The mindset, humanitarian mindset and leadership mindset must also evolve,” Dr Yevutsey said.

Responding to the stakeholders, Professor Agyare reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening collaboration with the pharmaceutical sector and promoting the visibility of pharmacy within KNUST’s One Health approach.

“Under my leadership, we will make sure that the presence of pharmacy will be shown to the world under the One Health KNUST is practicing, and we have added veterinary as part of our policy,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of alumni support in moving KNUST from excellence to eminence.

“Many universities, especially when moving from excellence to eminence, need the support of alumni. I think over the years, maybe how we related to them, especially when we were getting everything from the government, we mostly did not recognize them and their contributions,” Professor Agyare said.

He called for stronger collaboration between KNUST’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to advance education, research and healthcare delivery.

Story and Photos: Emmanuel Offei