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The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has expressed disappointment in government's decision to dissolve the school’s Governing Council.

The decision to dissolve the board was taken following meetings between the government, university management and other stakeholders over the recent violent protest by students.

The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the school decided to embark on a peaceful demonstration after 10 students and one alumnus of the school were arrested for holding a vigil on campus without permission.

However the intended peaceful demonstration turned messy leading to the destruction of properties and a closure of the school.

Subsequently, government on Thursday, dissolved the governing council of the school, formed and sworn in a 7-member Interim Council to oversee the affairs of the school.

The interim council which is being chaired by the Paramount Chief of Bompata Traditional Area, Nana Effa Apenteng will serve for 3 months.

Meanwhile, the university will be opened within 14-days.

However, KNUST lecturers (UTAG) have rejected the seven-member interim committee because the dissolution of the governing council “frowns on the autonomy of the University and smacks of political interference.”

A statement signed by its President, Prof. Eric K. Forkuo, said the lecturers will advise themselves should "the Government insist on going forward with its interim arrangement"

"UTAG is of the view that there are enough provisions and mechanisms enshrined in the Act and Statutes for the resolution of such issues. We do not believe that the action taken by government is the best way to resolve the issue as it frowns on the autonomy of the University and smacks of political interference.

UTAG-KNUST, therefore, wishes to state emphatically that it does not accept this interim arrangement by government and insist on government allowing the Act and Statutes of the University to work. Should the Government insist on going forward with its interim arrangement, UTAG will have no option, other than to advise itself with immediate effect" the statement indicated.