Concerned affiliates of KNUST Male Halls petition President Mahama over ambassadorial nominee

A group of concerned Ghanaians has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama. This group includes affiliates and alumni from all-male halls at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). They want him to withdraw the nomination of Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso as Ghana’s Ambassador-designate.

The petition is dated April 23, 2025. It responds to a presidential nomination letter from April 2, 2025. This letter appointed Prof. Obiri-Danso, the former KNUST Vice-Chancellor, to a diplomatic post.

The petitioners express "deep concern and disappointment" over this nomination. They reference his role in converting University Hall (Katanga) and Unity Hall from all-male to mixed-gender status. This decision was made during his tenure without broad consultation.

The change led to massive unrest on campus. It sparked the infamous student protests on October 22, 2018. The riots caused widespread property damage and disrupted academic activities.

The petition states that converting Katanga and Unity Halls undermined long-standing traditions. It deeply affected the identity and cohesion of the student body. The group believes this reflects poor judgment and disregard for students' concerns.

They argue that Prof. Obiri-Danso's actions have had a lasting negative impact on the university. They question whether he is suitable to represent Ghana internationally.

The petition warns that not revoking his nomination may lead to nationwide protests by alumni and affiliates of the affected halls. Besides calling for a reversal of the ambassadorial nomination, they urge President Mahama to reconsider converting Katanga and Unity Halls into mixed-gender accommodations.

These halls are more than residences; they symbolize heritage and brotherhood. They have decades of rich tradition and have produced many outstanding leaders who contributed significantly to national development.