The Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has warned chiefs, individuals, and other groups not to claim ownership of lands belonging to the university.
Speaking during activities to mark KNUST’s 75th anniversary, the Asantehene said the university’s lands are legally reserved for the institution and are held in trust by the stools. He stressed that no individual or family owns the land.
He also cautioned anyone trying to challenge KNUST’s ownership of its lands in court, saying they do so at their own risk.
Otumfuo expressed concern about the increasing number of court cases involving KNUST lands. He questioned why some lawyers continue to take up such cases despite what he believes is the clear ownership status of the property.
“The land belongs to the Golden Stool. The chiefs are caretakers; no family owns the land. The lands are all vested in the stools,” he said.
He further alleged that some people, both within and outside the university community, are working together to obtain court rulings over portions of KNUST land for their personal benefit.
“Anyone within the university or thereabouts who condones with people to take matters of land to court just because they can get a judgment over more than 1,000 acres of university land and go and sell it, I say no,” he stated.
The Asantehene also criticised lawyers who support such land claims. He said legal professionals should carefully investigate such matters before helping people pursue cases involving lands set aside for educational institutions.
“There is collusion both within and outside. I wonder why some lawyers would want to do that when they are trained professionals and someone comes to them claiming ownership of university land, and they support that person to go to court,” he added.
