Prioritise completion of 18-year-old KNUST teaching hospital - Asantehene to govt

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged the government to prioritise the completion of the long-awaited teaching hospital at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to enhance academic work.

He said the hospital project was still not completed even though there had been tremendous progress.

“I am passionate about this project because of the peculiar purpose it is meant to serve when finished, as it will complement the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in the training of medical and allied health students of KNUST”, he stressed.

Otumfuo Osei II, who is also the Chancellor of the university, made the remarks while addressing the final session of the 58th special congregation of KNUST last Saturday, June 28, 2025.

For the first time, the event was graced by the Leader of the Kingdom of Eswatini, King Mswati III, who was on a four-day official state visit to Ghana.

Through the Asantehene’s leadership, the Mastercard Foundation awarded scholarship to five deserving students from the kingdom of Eswatini to pursue petroleum engineering in KNUST to support their fairly young petroleum industry.

This brings the total number of Eswatini students studying in KNUST to 18. 

Project details

In July, 2007, the Asantehene cut the sod for work to begin on the teaching hospital project. However, after 18 years of work on the facility, the project has still not been completed for the benefit of the students.

The project, being executed by the College of Architecture and Planning of KNUST, with funding from the university in collaboration with the Ghana Education Trust (GETFund), is at a cost of about $125 million.

Covering a land area of some 71 acres, it would have a cardiothoracic and neurosurgical centre, diagnostic unit and laboratory, morgue, administration and Out-Patient-Department (OPD) block, wards, security post, effluent chambers as well as a laundry unit, among others.

He urged the Vice President, who was at the event, to impress upon President Mahama to prioritise the hospital and ensure its completion for the ultimate benefit of the university community.

Motivate young lecturers

He said despite the numerous opportunities that existed elsewhere, lecturers, especially the young ones, made the choice to work in KNUST, stressing “I am aware of the immense work load of high student-lecturer ratio regarding their routine research work, and yet, they remained and mostly continued to contribute to the development of Ghana”.

“I, therefore, urge you, and the University Council, to please take good care of my young lecturers for me, motivate them and reward them for deciding to stay in Ghana and contribute their quota to the growth of education” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said.

He urged the university to give the lecturers all the tools they needed to enable them to deliver the needed quality education that would ensure the socio-economic development of the country.

Further, he told the students that they were the heartbeat of tomorrow but should remember that true scholarship was won not by arrogance but by humility, and further entreated  them to lead with kindness and never stop learning.

Commendation

Delivering his address, King Mswati III commended the institution for providing the infrastructure which allowed for the excellent training and grooming of the students to have the requisite skills and knowledge in their career and for their professional improvement.

He told the students that they had not only acquired knowledge but had also learned how to think critically, solve problems and innovate, stressing “your education has prepared you not just to adapt, to change, but to lead”.

He reminded the students that success was not measured solely by titles or accolades but by the impact they would make on the world around them, adding that the world they were entering was one of rapid change and boundless opportunities.

“We are also pleased to learn that this great university is also home to students from the Kingdom of Eswatini, which others are also coming to join and we are confident that they are exposed to excellent learning experiences and acquiring the best education” he said.

Writer’s email; gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh.