The management of Sunyani Technical University (STU) has raised a serious security alarm over the increasing and forceful encroachment on the institution’s land. University authorities revealed that attempts to reclaim their legally acquired property have been met with violent resistance orchestrated by individuals believed to be armed land guards.
The situation has become so dire that the university has been compelled to suspend essential long-term infrastructure projects on the affected areas for the safety of its staff and students.
University Struggles to Assert Legal Control
The alarming details were brought to public light when the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Kwadwo Adinkra Appiah, appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Professor Appiah disclosed that the institution is fighting a difficult battle to maintain control over sections of its 35-hectare land. He detailed how encroachers have organized armed resistance to fend off any attempts by the university to develop or even access the land.
"We have built almost across, but unfortunately, on the other side, we didn't have any presence, and that is where they started," Professor Appiah lamented to the Committee. He specified that the encroachers have hired land guards armed with machetes to ward off university personnel (Source: Sunyani Technical University Management Statement to PAC, November 6, 2025).
Efforts to Secure Land Vandalized
The Vice-Chancellor recounted several unsuccessful attempts by the management to secure the property. He confirmed that a fence wall, which the university attempted to erect to demarcate and protect the land, was violently demolished by the encroachers.
Furthermore, even passive measures meant to indicate university ownership have been disregarded: "We even placed two metal containers there, thinking they would not touch them. But they have sold the lands around the container," Professor Appiah added. He warned that any attempt by staff to physically enter the disputed areas is met with threats of physical harm.
The inability to safely access and develop the land poses a major threat to STU’s future. Continued encroachment restricts the university's ability to expand academic facilities, hostels, and necessary infrastructure, potentially undermining its ability to cater to Ghana’s growing demand for technical education.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor issued a direct appeal to government and security agencies for immediate intervention. He stressed that a lack of swift action could solidify the illegal occupation, severely jeopardizing the university's long-term master plan. This situation at STU reflects a disturbing national trend where land encroachment and the activities of illegal land guards threaten the development plans of key public institutions across Ghana.
Topic: Land Encroachment and Tertiary Education
Source: Statement by Sunyani Technical University (STU) Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwadwo Adinkra Appiah, to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on November 6, 2025.