Some students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology have taken to the streets of the university to demonstrate over what they term as an inhumane treatment meted out to some students by the university security.
The demonstration was organised by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) which also asked all students to boycott lectures and join the forces to register their displeasure over the incident.
Thousands of students converged at the Peace Junction, a shuttle station right opposite Unity Hall to commence the unprecedented demonstration.
The demonstration which was initially planned to be a peaceful one turned otherwise leading to a lot of properties destroyed in the process.
Students were in arm bands mounting road blocks to prevent colleague students from attending lectures.
Some students were with placards with several inscriptions communicating a message to the authorities of the university. The action of the students was beyond control that authorities had to call for reenforcement.
Properties Destroyed
The peaceful demonstration as planned led to the destruction of a lot of properties belonging to the school including the cars, street lights, waste bins, access control machines and what have you. The angered students moved from departments to departments, vandalising properties at offices.
The car belonging to the Dean of Students was not spared, the angered students set the car ablaze after smashing the windscreen with stones and other harmful weapons.
Security Personnel Deployed
A combined team of police and military personnel were been deployed unto the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to protect lives and properties.
The deployment follows the destruction of properties on the campus of the university by rampaging students who are mainly from the University Hall (Kantanga) and Continental (Unity) hall.
The military were deployed after the police failed to contain the situation.
Tension mounted on campus as the students were marching on to demand better treatment from authorities.
So far, no injury has been recorded throughout the process.
Background
The Students Representative Council(SRC) of the Kwame Nkrumah in an official statement has declared “no lectures” tomorrow (Monday 22nd October, 2018) for demonstration over students brutality.
The demonstration as the news team of successafrica.info understand is to draw the attention of the University’s Chancellor, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, the minister of education and the president the Ghana to the plights of students.
The SRC in an official statement dated 22nd October, 2018 called for the demonstration following the brutality of students believed to be affiliates of the University Hall, Katanga.
Scores of angry parents on Saturday morning gathered outside the KNUST Police Station, demanding the release of their wards who have been detained in police custody.
The students, according to the parents were arrested Friday night by the internal security of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and handed over to the police for holding a vigil in the school.
One out of the twelve who were arrested, is suffering from life-threatening conditions after he was reportedly manhandled by the campus officials. He is receiving treatment at the KNUST Hospital.
Affected Student battling for his life at the University’s hospital. Eleven students including an alumnus of the Katanga hall are behind cells as police begin their investigations.
But some parents who spoke to successafrica.info news team have accused authorities of the institution of intimidating and victimizing students who reside at the Unity and University halls since both halls were converted to mixed ones.
An angry parent said: “I saw some of the students and you could see visible marks. I spoke with the Commander that this is what I had seen and I do not think it is good. There is a boy who is currently on admission but for his injuries, he would have been in custody by now. They arrested and beat him”.
“This is ridiculous, Obiri Danso, the Vice Chancellor must be sacked, why should these boys be detained, what crime have they committed?”, said a charged Alumnus who had visited the police station.
Meanwhile officials of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the police were not immediately available for comments over the development.
Suspension of “Morales”
The school had earlier served notice that it had suspended the organisation of vigils, also known as “morales in the school as a result of “several negative issues encountered recently with respect to morales in the hall.”
“Any person who flouts this directive shall receive the necessary sanctions and response,” the notice added.
