The Vice Chancellor of Ho Technical University (HTU), Professor Benjamin Honyenuga, has cautioned the university’s students against engaging in behaviours that could damage the institution’s reputation, emphasizing that those identified as participating in social vices will face dismissal.
Professor Honyenuga stated that students determined to be guilty of offenses such as “sexual harassment, possession of illegal drugs, and theft,” among others, would face expulsion from the university and would also be referred to law enforcement authorities for appropriate legal action.
The Vice Chancellor gave the warning at the 32nd matriculation ceremony of 4,120 students to offer Diploma, High National Diploma and Degree programmes, last week Friday.
He said the university received a total of 5,627 applications out of which 4,120 were admitted, and announced that the 2025 matriculation saw the highest number of admission since the institution gained university status.
Professor Honyenuga stressed that students were not above the laws of the country, adding that HTU had distinguished itself locally and internationally as one of the best universities in Ghana, Africa and the world at large, a reputation that must be maintained.
He said “as a university, we did not have a uniform but our students were encouraged to dress decently at all times, and dressing indecently on campus, carrying guns and knives while on campus would equally not be tolerated.”
Professor Honyenuga, therefore, advised the fresh students to use all available dispute resolution mechanisms put in place by the university authorities for students to resolve their differences, and stressed that students who would be caught fighting, faced outright dismissal.
He said “I would like to tell you our experiences as heads of the institution and lecturers that in most cases when students disregarded the rules and fought, they would normally not like the university authorities to dismiss them but they would pack and leave before the authorities would be informed”.
The Vice Chancellor asked the new students to take advantage of the numerous opportunities including academic and extra-curricular activities that could broaden their knowledge which would prepare them adequately for the future.
Professor Honyenuga announced that HTU had admitted 57 differently physically challenged students who were on scholarship, and urged the students to be focused and develop their talents and acquired knowledge to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He therefore wished the students well, stressing the need for them to manage their time effectively to enable them to meet the standard of the university, and enable them to become successful in their respective areas of studies.
FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, HO
