KNUST gives visually impaired PhD applicant admission after GH¢1m legal threat

The management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has finally granted Isaac Anin Baah, a visually impaired applicant admission into its PhD programme in Public Health.

The admission comes after the 34-year-old filed a lawsuit against the Kumasi-based Science and Technology University seeking GHC1 million in damages for the stress, lost scholarship opportunities, and lack of communication during the admission process.

Isaac who previously completed a Master’s degree at KNUST lawsuit follows Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s failure to initially offer him admission, despite receiving an offer that was later revoked without explanation.

“I applied to KNUST to pursue a PhD in Public Health. I was given admission, but they revoked it with no explanation. When I tried to get clarification from the School of Public Health, they couldn’t provide any reasons. I involved my lawyer, and after several letters to the university were unanswered, I had no option but to seek legal redress,” Baah told the Daily Graphic.

Isaac Anin Baah further emphasised that he did not want to believe the revocation was due to his visual impairment, citing that he had completed his master’s degree at KNUST without facing such issues.

Frustrated by KNUST’s lack of response, Baah said he sought legal action which includes claims of GHC1 million in damages, aimed at compensating for the emotional stress and loss of scholarship opportunities tied to the delayed admission.

“I don’t believe it’s discrimination based on my impairment because I had studied at KNUST before for my master’s. However, perhaps the court will compel the university to provide the reasons behind the withdrawal of my admission,” Baah added.

In response to the lawsuit, Norris Bekoe, KNUST’s University Relations Officer, explained that the admission revocation was due to an administrative mix-up. He confirmed that the university quickly rectified the issue and had already extended a new admission offer to Baah.

“During the admission process, there was a mix-up, but as soon as it was detected, we rectified it. He has been offered admission and is supposed to come and pay his fees to commence his course. That is why his decision to seek redress in court comes as a surprise,” Bekoe told the newspaper.

He added “I don’t think it’s a case of discrimination because he was here for his master’s programme, and we’ve had several students with disabilities enrolled in different academic programmes. This was merely a mix-up, and we’ve resolved it. We look forward to him completing the process to begin his studies.”