Audio Attachment:Listen to Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah talking to news men
Peacefmonline.com can confirm that students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [KNUST] have been asked to vacate the school premises by midday on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.
This follows an order by the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to the University to close down indefinitely in the wake of the unrest.
A 12-hour curfew on the campus from 6:00pm to 6:00am has been imposed which takes effect today, Monday.
The decision, which was announced by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, excludes foreign students who will be given full security protection and a reserved hall until they are able to leave to their respective countries.
The decision was taken in consultation with the management of the school.
Too late?
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Ministry of Education, led by the Minister, Hon Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh will be at KNUST campus to meet the university authorities and the students on Tuesday at 10 am.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Director of Communications at the Ministry, said in a statement released on Monday afternoon, that the ministry notes with concern, developments on the KNUST campus with regard to bodily injuries and detention of some students, as well as the destruction of public properties.
The statement however appealed for calm on all sides as a first step to resolving the fracas.
Background
A protest by the students against the school’s authorities over what they describe as an unfair treatment meted out to them turned violent on Monday.
The School’s security on Friday [October 19, 2018] pounced on unarmed students who were having a peaceful vigil at the forecourt of the hall in protest of management’s freeze on “morale”, a usual Friday night jamboree in all the halls at the school.
Barely a week ago, the University in a communique signed and posted both the Continental Hall and University Hall Management, asked the student body to cease their usual ‘Friday Night Morale’ as the school has suspended the activity.
The notice read “Notice is hereby given that all forms of “morales” in and around the University Hall are suspended with immediate effect. This decision was taken in view of several negative issues encountered recently with respect to morales in the hall. Any person who flouts this directive shall receive the necessary sanction and response”.
A group of security men who were said to be acting based on orders from the authorities, allegedly manhandled students who reportedly flouted the rules and held a mini vigil and in the process one student sustained severe head injuries, bleeding profusely.
The injured student was immediately admitted to the KNUST Hospital for treatment on Friday evening.
KNUST authorities justify students’ arrest
KNUST Management further justified the arrest of some students of the University saying the students did not seek permission before undertaking the activity contrary to the rules of the university.
“The university thinks certain activities in the night should not be entertained. Some other activities are permitted because the students applied for permission. But there was no permission for last Friday’s activity. The students decided to go their own way. They decided not to obey any rules or regulations on campus; and the law doesn’t permit that. So when it happened, the police were brought in,” the University’s Public Relations Officer, Kwame Yeboah told the media.
Reaction Extreme?
On the morning of Monday, Ocotober 22, 2018, students of the University embarked on a violent demonstration against the University authorities.
The Students' Representative Council (SRC) of the KNUSTSRC Executive Council in a statement titled: ACTION NOW, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, implored students to abandon the lecture halls today (Monday, October 22, 2018) for the demonstration against police brutality of students, and in solidarity with their 11 arrested colleagues of the University Hall (Katanga Hall) during the "illegal" Friday Night Morale which included drumming during a hall week celebration.
The students thronged the streets on campus in their numbers, clad in red and amidst the protest vandalized several properties including the office and car of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso.
The students are also protesting against a decision by the Vice Chancellor and the authorities to turn the all-male Katanga Hall into a mixed hall with females.
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
The campus of KNUST has been relatively rowdy following the conversion of some all-male halls into mixed ones.
There were disturbing scenes on campus as the students destroyed and burned down some properties, ranging from cars to motorbikes.
Calm Restored
The operation ‘Calm Life’ unit of the Police Service was sent in amid the unrest. Later, the military was also deployed after tensions increased to calm the situation.
In a related development, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has begun an assessment of the level of destruction caused by the students.
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I AM A PARENT. WE CANNOT ALLOW IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR ON OUR CAMPUSES.
I REPEAT WHAT ONE CONTRIBUTOR WRITES:"IRRESPONSIBLE STUDENTS ENGAGING IN IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR AND YOU BLAME THE PRESIDENT. HOW ABOUT THE RIOTING STUDENTS WHO ARE ADULTS ARRESTED, FINED AND JAILED FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE AND DESTRUCTION OF STATE PROPERTY. THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN ANY CIVILIZED NATION".
The police and army are totally capable of bringing law and order to the campus. Going on protests or demonstrations is not a bad thing. The constitution permits it. However, there is a procedure that must be followed. The vice chancellor and university authorities must be blamed for not teaching the students the stipulated procedure. Rescind the decision immediately. Peaceful protest abiding by the rules must be scheduled within two weeks after which a petition must be presented to the vice chancellor.
When the educated who are supposed to be “reasonable” behave this way, what hope is there for the future. Are these the same people we find in churches and mosques and other worship centers . Dear God
hey what has this got to do with Nana Addo. Irresponsible students engaging in irresponsible behavior and you blame the president. How about the rioting students who are adults arrested, fined and jailed for disturbing the peace and destruction of state property. This behavior is not and will not be tolerated in any civilized nation.
You can read this anyway you want but you will be lying to yourself if you lose sight of the fact that many riots have been handled better by previous administrations. akuffo addo's penchant for force and non consultative action has already cost the nation too much.
I AM A PARENT. WE CANNOT ALLOW IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR ON OUR CAMPUSES. I REPEAT WHAT ONE CONTRIBUTOR WRITES:"IRRESPONSIBLE STUDENTS ENGAGING IN IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR AND YOU BLAME THE PRESIDENT. HOW ABOUT THE RIOTING STUDENTS WHO ARE ADULTS ARRESTED, FINED AND JAILED FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE AND DESTRUCTION OF STATE PROPERTY. THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN ANY CIVILIZED NATION".
Education minister ,asantehene ,nana add petioned bit no action taken .Who is to be blamed
The police and army are totally capable of bringing law and order to the campus. Going on protests or demonstrations is not a bad thing. The constitution permits it. However, there is a procedure that must be followed. The vice chancellor and university authorities must be blamed for not teaching the students the stipulated procedure. Rescind the decision immediately. Peaceful protest abiding by the rules must be scheduled within two weeks after which a petition must be presented to the vice chancellor.
When the educated who are supposed to be “reasonable” behave this way, what hope is there for the future. Are these the same people we find in churches and mosques and other worship centers . Dear God
hey what has this got to do with Nana Addo. Irresponsible students engaging in irresponsible behavior and you blame the president. How about the rioting students who are adults arrested, fined and jailed for disturbing the peace and destruction of state property. This behavior is not and will not be tolerated in any civilized nation.
You can read this anyway you want but you will be lying to yourself if you lose sight of the fact that many riots have been handled better by previous administrations. akuffo addo's penchant for force and non consultative action has already cost the nation too much.