Visually impaired PhD applicant has been offered admission — KNUST replies
The University Relations Officer of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, has denied claims of discrimination against a visually impaired PhD applicant.
Contrary to the claims by the applicant, Dr. Bekoe said the university is fair to everyone, irrespective of background.
In an interview with The Ghana Report, the University Relations Officer said information available to him indicated that Mr. Baah had been offered admission.
“He has been offered admission, but he is supposed to come and make payment for fees. So I don’t know if there is any change to that,” he stated.
Isaac Anin Baah, the applicant at the centre of the issue, filed a suit against the university alleging discrimination in their admission process.
According to him, KNUST withdrew his admission on two occasions.
In a writ filed at a high court in Kumasi, he said several letters written by his lawyers seeking an explanation for the revocation of his admission have come to naught.
“The plaintiff states that his lawyer wrote several letters to the defendants demanding grounds for the revocation of his admission letter, but the defendants have willfully failed to respond to same. Plaintiff believes that the revocation of his offer of admission is unjust, and unless this honorable court intervenes, he will be denied admission and suffer unjust treatment from the defendants.
“Plaintiff states that the list of admitted students as published on the website of the 4th Defendant includes his name, and in fact, Plaintiff’s name is first on the list,” the writ said.
The writ underscores, “Revoking an admission offer to the plaintiff without any stated reasons, justifications, or grounds raises concerns of discrimination based on his disability.”
Isaac said he had lost a scholarship package due to the university’s treatment.
He is, therefore, seeking GHC 1 million for the distressing situation he has been subjected to.
He wants a declaration that KNUST has been negligent in handling his application and any order the court may deem fit.