KNUST runs over 200 unaccredited programmes – A-G report

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) through the Auditor-General’s report has revealed the school runs unaccredited programmes that can be estimated over 200 in number.

The report, dated June 1, 2022, is directed to Mr. Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament.

Some academic programs provided by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have not received accreditation, according to the Auditor-General’s report for 2021.

“Out of the 360 programs administered by the University, only 61 have been accredited,” the report’s findings state. “190 have been referred to the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for accreditation and reaccreditation, and 109 have not yet been forwarded to NAB for accreditation.”

The Auditor-General has therefore “recommended to the KNUST Management to cease running programmes that are unaccredited or having its accredited certificates expired, until they are accredited or renewed, to avoid sanctions by NAB.”

Other Findings from the A-G’s Report

“We identified a number of defects during our physical inspection of the Proposed Construction of Educational Resort Facilities for the Institute of Distance Learning (IDL) at Moree. We recommended that the Director of works, and the project supervisors should rectify the defects identified at their own expense.”

“Our audit disclosed that out of GH¢291,771.61 released by the University for maintenance activities, transactions in the sum of GH¢263,596.42 were without relevant supporting documents like Vice Chancellor’s approval and letters of contract engagements, signed sheets, and proper VAT invoices to authenticate the payments. In the absence of the required supporting documents to prove the legitimacy of the expenditures, we recommended that the technical team at the Maintenance Department (Architect, Site Manager, Administrator, and others) should refund the amount of GH¢263,596.42 to the University.”

“We noted from our review of accounts receivables in the Financial Statements of the Printing Press that a total debt of GH¢294,123.00 owed by 14 customers remained uncollected since 2016. We recommended to Management to institute debt collection strategy to ensure early recovery of the debt and minimise future default rate.”