Don't Force Policies Down Throat of Students - Nana Ofori Owusu To KNUST Authorities

Aspiring National Chairman of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu has called on University authorities to respect and act in the interest of their students.

Commenting on the impasse between the authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the students, Nana Ofori Owusu urged University authorities to engage students in all levels of decision-making.

He told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' that there have been historical accounts of students embarking on protests to undertake certain activist actions aimed at achieving a desired result.

Nana Ofori Owusu therefore advised University authorities not to exert their power and influence on students in an attempt to impose policies on them because they (students) will reciprocate in equal measure.

“The audacity that most of them will be bold to speak their mind, lead leadership front and become valuable citizens of the country; and also lead major policy changes and rest, you can’t kill that spirit. You must harness it and guide it. I’ve given you the history of protest around the world and I’m saying that the students are at the core of it. So, these things we’re doing and want to force it down the throat of these young men and women, it is not correct. It is not correct and we can’t do that. When you do that, you have set the foundation for resistance,” he said.

Touching further on the KNUST brouhaha, the PPP Stalwart also cautioned political figures in the country to watch their utterances when discussing sensitive national issues.

According to him, it is not a good sign of political leadership should the actors or nation leaders speak in a manner that doesn't lead to nation building, particularly in times of crisis.

He noted that statements uttered by politicians on the issue could potentially inflame passions or ignite further trouble.

“Political actors, in times of crisis, should be very mindful of our utterances; especially with the digital world we find ourselves in . . . How we speak in the times of crisis must be nation building," he warned.