Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has assured staff and the public that no draft Statutes should be considered final until the ongoing review process is completed.

The clarification comes amid concerns over proposed changes to the university's governance framework, including the selection of Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Deans.

It also follows a vote by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at KNUST rejecting proposals to replace existing election arrangements with appointment systems for the positions.

According to Management, the review follows the coming into force of the KNUST Act, 2025 (Act 1157).

The University Governing Council constituted a committee in March 2026 to prepare draft Statutes to give effect to the new Act.

Between April and July, the committee engaged colleges, academic and administrative units, staff unions, student bodies, and other stakeholders, while also considering submissions from members of the university community.

The resulting draft was presented to an Emergency Meeting of the Academic Board on August 5, 2026.

Management said the Academic Board subsequently constituted a review committee to assess the draft, together with comments, suggestions, and proposals submitted by stakeholders.

KNUST said the review committee has yet to submit its report to the Academic Board.

The draft Statutes will subsequently have to go through the prescribed governance processes before being presented to the University Governing Council for consideration and possible approval.

"The University, therefore, urges members of the University community and the public to remain calm and wait for the Committee to submit its report to the Academic Board," Management said.

It added that "no draft Statutes should be regarded as final until the Committee has completed all the University's prescribed governance and approval processes."

The University also urged stakeholders to rely on official communications for information on the review.

The clarification follows a decision by UTAG-KNUST on August 20 to reject proposed changes concerning the selection of Pro-Vice Chancellors and Deans.

At an Emergency General Meeting, members voted to retain the existing arrangements, arguing that broad participation, collegiality, transparency and confidence in university leadership selection should be maintained.

One of the proposals under consideration would have allowed the Vice-Chancellor to nominate candidates for Pro-Vice-Chancellor positions for consideration through a Search Committee.

Another proposal would have required all Deans to be appointed through a Search Committee rather than maintaining the existing arrangements, under which some Deans are appointed and others elected.

KNUST Management said it remains committed to an open and consultative process and will continue engaging relevant stakeholders as the review progresses.

"The University sincerely appreciates the patience, cooperation, and constructive contributions of staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders," it said.

It added that the objective was to produce "a robust, legally sound, and forward-looking set of Statutes" that would serve the long-term interests of the university.

The review committee is expected to submit its report to the Academic Board before the draft proceeds to the Governing Council for consideration and possible approval.