The Committee for the Community for Coorporation and Understanding Between KNUST and the Surrounding Villages, also known as the Nananom Committee of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has organised a two-day workshop aimed at educating Chiefs of the surrounding communities of the University, on the Chieftaincy Act 759, 2008 and Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 798, 2010.

Addressing the Nananom on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Donkor, the Pro Vice-Chancellor noted that there has been a cordial relationship between the chiefs of the community and the Institution. He said, from the acquisition of land for developmental projects in the University to the residential accommodation for students and staff outside the University Campus, Nananom continue to play integral roles. He reminded the chiefs gathered that, their forefathers saw the importance of education in the community and the country at large, and thereby provided land for the University. He therefore urged them to emulate the examples of their predecessors in education and unity to help train more professionals for the nation.

Professor Donkor indicated that dispute resolution is intricate in chieftaincy in Ghana. It is therefore imperative that KNUST as an educational Institution took it upon itself to educate chiefs around the University Community on the new Acts governing their rulings in the communities, hence the organisation of the workshop.

He hoped for a continuous engagement and deliberation with the traditional leaders in the societies for a peaceful and fruitful co-existence and relationship.

Nana Dr. Edusah, the Chairman of Nananom Committee said the workshop was unprecedented, because only few Institutions in Ghana have taken this step of actively educating traditional authorities surrounding their communities or even periodically meeting them for deliberations. Nana Dr. Edusah said, it is a necessity for all involved to be kept abreast of the disparities between the previous Acts and the current ones, thus the workshop.

The Chairman for the workshop, Nana Opoku Agyemang, Ayeduasehene exhorted the chiefs and queen mothers to appreciate the efforts of the KNUST Administration. He also urged his colleagues to resort to the University Authorities whenever there is a problem. He noted that this will be beneficial to both parties.

Two imminent lawyers; E. O. Marfo (Esquire), Accra, and A. A. Ankomah (Esquire) from Koforidua, and Mr. R. A. Takyi-Registrar, National House of Chiefs, Kumasi who are well vest in chieftaincy laws, were invited to give presentations on the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (ACT 759) and Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (ACT 798).

The Nananom Committee also revealed plans of introducing a new programme called the Community Impact Programme. This programme when implemented will see Halls of Residence and Colleges or Faculties adopting surrounding communities for outreach projects.