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Confusion has erupted on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, over an awards ceremony.

The event, NUGS/SRC Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards, which took place at the law auditorium of the university, was nearly marred by political manipulations.

This was when Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor William Otoo-Ellis, allegedly blocked the presentation of an award to the National Youth Organiser of the main opposition party, New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammy Awuku.

The theme for the event, which has been running for the past five years, was ‘Setting Standards Through The Recognition of Excellence.’

Even though Prof. Otoo-Ellis has denied any attempt to block the award from being given to the young man, submissions from Daily Guide sources on the campus had been corroborated by some student leaders who on condition of anonymity, have narrated how the vice chancellor influenced the award at the eleventh hour.

According to our sources, Awuku had been shortlisted by the organizers of the event for a special award, together with a young entrepreneur, John Armah, alongside others like DCOP Kofi Boakye; the Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Elizabeth Agyeman and CEO of the Students Loan Trust, Shiela Naah-Boamah, who had all been earmarked to be given citations as well as a couple of other students for their academic excellence.

The NPP youth leader was therefore scheduled to be awarded for his contribution to Youth Leadership and Governance while John Armah was nominated for the Young Achievers Award in the field of entrepreneurship.

On the event day, Awuku, who had earlier been informed of the decision, was therefore said to have gone to the campus to receive the award.

On arrival, he was said to have been scheduled to sit in the front row where other awardees were seated, but that was not meant to be.

Just as it was time for the special awards category, our sources said, there was a musical interlude purportedly to resolve some few issues.

The vice chancellor was reported to have walked out of the auditorium where the event was being held to have discussions with the organizers.

According to a bystander, it was then that Prof Otoo-Ellis asked the students’ leaders to cancel the award intended for Awuku and subsequently threatened to deal with them (certificates to be withheld) if they defied his instructions and went ahead to give him (Awuku) the award.

After some wrangling, the organizers seemed to have been cowed into submission and dropped Awuku’s name to the surprise of many who had gathered in the auditorium, including other recipients.

But an obviously embarrassed Sammy Awuku was said to have kept his cool.

Interestingly, our sources said while the other plaques were given out to the intended recipients, that of Awuku with his name boldly embossed on it, was left on the table.

Organizers of the event were later said to have smuggled the plaque to Awuku but he turned it down to save them from incurring the displeasure of the authorities.

Inside sources had it that the vice chancellor was under pressure from some persons in government to prevent the award from being given to the NPP youth leader.