NEW KNUST VC INDUCTED INTO OFFICE (SPREAD, OCT 4, 2010)

THE new Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who was inducted into office last Saturday, made a promise to reposition the university as a global institution for science and technology with national development as its focus.
Professor William Otoo Ellis, 50, a Professor of Food Science and so far the youngest to occupy that position, took the oath of office as the ninth VC at a solemn ceremony at the Great Hall.
After that, he said he would pursue the university’s corporate strategic plan known as PLAN 2K14 started under the administration of his predecessor, Prof. K.K. Adarkwa, as part of measures to meet his vision for the university.
The investiture of Prof. Ellis, performed by the Chancellor of the university, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was attended by academics, politicians, the clergy, family members and well-wishers.
A reputed academic and international scholar, Prof. Ellis attended St John’s Grammar School and Pope John’s Senior High School at Effiduase-Koforidua for his Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates.
He studied for his first degree at the KNUST before proceeding to the McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he had his MSc and PhD and returned to Ghana to join the service of the KNUST.
The Asantehene challenged Prof. Ellis to immediately work at healing the wounds that may have arisen from the stiff competition for the high office.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu described Prof. Ellis as a true son of the KNUST, stressing, “We trust and believe he is worthy of the cause and worthy of his new office”.
The new VC indicated that his administration would give priority to science and technology research, graduate training with special emphasis on science and technology, information and communication technology, quality assurance, capacity building and collaboration to reflect the core mandate of the university.
He commended the government for allocating $250,000 to be accessed by the university for ICT activities, and Vodafone for the deployment of 45-megawatt bandwidth for six years at a highly subsidised rate for research and teaching.
In a brief speech, Prof. Adarkwa, the outgone VC, thanked the entire university for the support given him and promised to work towards growing the university even while out of office.
Present was the Council Chairman of the university, Mr P.V. Obeng.