The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, inducted Professor Christian Agyare as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
He takes over from Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, the first female Vice-Chancellor whose six-year tenure ended on July 31, 2026.
Prof. Agyare, who until his appointment was the Provost of the College of Health Services (CHS) from August 2020 to July 2026, becomes the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST since its establishment 75 years ago.
Just like his predecessor, he is also a Professor of Pharmacy.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Chancellor of the university, administered the oaths of office and secrecy and subsequently robed Prof. Agyare, paving the way for him to assume his portfolio as the new VC of KNUST.
Dignitaries
The colourful and well-attended induction ceremony held at the Great Hall was graced by high-profile dignitaries, including ministers of state, religious leaders, traditional rulers, academia, family members and, more importantly, students and old students of Prempeh College.
Notable among them were the Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah; Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene.
Others were former Bishops of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, the Most Rev. Dr Paul K. Boafo and the current Presiding Bishop, Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu.
Not privilege above others
Addressing the ceremony, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II advised Prof. Agyare not to consider his new office as a privilege above others but rather regard it as a sacred trust placed in his hands for the benefit of generations he may never meet.
He said “institutions become stronger when leadership develops others rather than seek to overshadow them,” adding that “every policy, decision, investment and reform must ultimately enhance teaching, learning, research, innovation and service to society”.
He told him that his new office was one of stewardship as future generations would judge his tenure not by the authority exercised, but by the lasting impact he would have made on the lives of staff, students, the university and the nation at large.
Leadership, vision
The Asantehene entreated him to take note that universities thrive through consultation rather than command, stressing “your success will not only be measured on the decisions you make but also on your ability to bring people together”.
“Differences of opinion are natural within every great university as they are evidence of intellectual vitality. Your responsibility is to ensure that such differences are managed with the university’s established structures,” he said.
Touching on the university’s strategic plan dubbed “Plan 2k35”, he charged the new VC to provide the needed leadership, vision and stewardship to guide the university community faithfully and purposely towards achieving it.
Commendation
The Chief of Staff, Dr Debrah, who represented President John Dramani Mahama, commended the immediate past Vice-Chancellor for her outstanding leadership throughout her tenure.
He urged Prof. Agyare to lead the university with courage, humility and integrity as well as build a team that welcomes new ideas, saying, “I entreat you to reward excellence and protect the standards that have made KNUST respected.
“Know when to preserve, reform and when to take a bold step into the future. In those moments, remember that leadership is rarely about choosing what is easiest; it is about choosing what best serves the institution and the people whose hopes have been placed in your care,” Dr Debrah stated.
Vision
In his inaugural address, Prof. Agyare said his vision was to deepen KNUST’s stature as a globally recognised Centre of Excellence for students, staff and alumni, to collaborate in the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship and inventiveness to support the industrial and socio-economic development of Ghana and beyond.
“The collective goal is to position KNUST as a forward-looking institution of higher learning that harnesses its intellectual capital, alumni network and strategic partnerships to drive impactful research, innovation, and transformative teaching,” he said.
He said one of their priorities would be the pursuit of transformative education built on an organisational mindset for the future.
“This is not simply a strategic objective but a culture that must permeate every college, faculty, department, unit, staff, students, stakeholders and every corridor of this university,” he added.
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