On Tuesday, 9th September 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, on behalf of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), officially launched the KNUST Heritage Map, a project that documents the University’s heritage sites, iconic buildings, and the stories behind them.
Speaking at the event, Professor Daniel Y. A. Duah, Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO), explained that the IPO frequently hosts international visitors and, to enrich their experiences, introduced campus tours as a core feature. Many of these visitors, he noted, are fascinated by the beauty of the campus and curious about the history behind the landmarks they encounter—questions the IPO was not always able to answer comprehensively.
To address this gap, the third-year Architecture class of the 2024/2025 academic year, under the leadership of their year master, Professor Alexander Boakye Marful and in collaboration with the IPO and the Directorate of Works, undertook the project to document the University’s heritage buildings and monument. Professor Daniel Duah emphasized that the Heritage Map will ensure campus tours present a consistent and accurate account of KNUST’s architectural legacy.
Mrs. Becklyn Asabea Asare, Class Representative of the third-year Architecture students, conducted a live demonstration of how the digital Heritage Map works. She highlighted that the project aims not only to preserve the University’s rich architectural history but also to make it more accessible to visitors and the wider KNUST community.
The Heritage Map provides key details such as location, architect, land size, year of construction, and architectural descriptions. For ease of use, QR codes have been embedded to allow users to digitally retrieve information.
Prof. Dickson highlighted her pride in the immense talents of the third year class under the leadership of Prof. Marful and praised all partners for coming together to deliver such an important outcome for the university. The launch of the KNUST Heritage Map marks a significant milestone in safeguarding the University’s legacy and positioning its architectural heritage as a valuable part of Ghana’s cultural and educational tourism landscape, she said.
The initiative received high commendation from stakeholders. Arc. Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, described the project as innovative and timely, with the potential to inspire similar digitalisation efforts across other universities in Ghana. Arc. Tony Asare, President of the Ghana Institute of Architects, praised its educational value and encouraged the team to enrich the project with historical photographs, provide regular updates, and consider patenting it for nationwide adoption.
Present at the launch included Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo, Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Professor Benjamin Emikpe, representing the Provost of the College of Health Sciences; Dr. Collins Ayine Nsor, representing the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Mr. Kojo Safo-Kantanka, Chief Architect at the Development Office; Dr. Jimmy Nkrumah, Director of the Directorate of Works and Physical Development; and Professor Alexander Boakye Marful, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture. Representatives from the International Programmes Office, a team from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and a team of third-year Architecture students were also present.
