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
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KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
KNUST Students Protest
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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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IT SAD THAT GHANAIANS ARE AFRAID TO CONDEMN THIS PRIMITIVEEEEE AND BARBARICCCC ACT OF KNUST STUDENTS. HISTORY TESTIFIES THAT DEMONSTRATORS WITH GENUINE CONCERNS DO NOT RESULT TO BRUTEEEE AND VIOLENCE TO ADDRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES. YES, PEEOPLE IN DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION EMBARK ON DEMONSTRATION BUT NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SENSEELEESSSS AND VIOLENT LIKE KNUST STUDENT. SRC OF KNUST IS A FAILED LEADERSHIP AND MUST BE PUNISHED FOR SUCH UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. I AM EXPECTING NUGS TO COME OUT MATURES AND TO CONDEMN SUCH UNCIVILISEEDD BEHAVIOUR AND NOT TO CONDONE IT. WHAT LEGACY ARE WE LEAVING TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION. THE BEHAVIOUR OF KNUST STUDENT IS SO BAD THAT IT DOES NOT BEFIT SECONDARY OR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. I EXPECT CIVIL SOCIETY, RELIGIOUS BODIES, AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES TO CONDEMN THIS UNRULYYYY BEHAVIOUR OF KNUST STUDENT IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS IMMEDIATELY. MANY OF KNUST STUDENT HAD JOIN THE DEMONSTRATION BUT HAD NOT DESIRED TO BE DESTRUCTIVE AND SENSELESSS. I EXPECT THE RIGHTTTT MINDED STUDENT TO HELP ANY INVESTIGATION BODY TO BE SET UP TO FISH OUT THE PERPERTRATORS OF THE VIOLENCE TO BE PUNISHED. THE CRIME COMMITTED FOR DESTROYING PROPERTIES MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE STUDENT. IT IS SHAMEFUL TO GHANA FOR PRODUCING SUCH INDISCIPLINE BUNCH OF PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SHOULD BECOME THINKERS AND CREATIVE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND NOT BRUTEE. ALL SHOULD CONDEMN THIS SHAMEFUL ACTION.
Now they can go and have all the freedom to do whatever they want.. nun.sense! Is that how to protest if u think the uni authorities were not listening to you? Now who is going to pay for all these damages? I hope all those culprits will have criminal records and will not ever allowed to hold public service positions. This is uncalled for and i can’t really understand how some people are defending this and others politicising this. Appalling to say the least.
Flames of fire did not start with flames but started with smoke hence there is no fire without smoke. The university authorities must be blamed.All these problems started when the authorities not listen to wisdom to send female students to Katanga Hall. why too much tintintrinti?
***barred word*** ed10ts. in this day of civilization who goes on demonstration and destroy properties. u could have done a peaceful demonstration and make your case but look at your miserable lives now. most ple that takes demonstrations so personal and destroy properties have no aim. most of them are those who are probably sacked for nonperformance but just in the school to deceive their parents. now they have a good reason to go and stay at home. i share their sentiments but destroying properties is a stup1?d act and must be condemned.
The next demonstration may witness some of us the parents in solidarity with our wards, you think beatings and arresting will intimidate them, all this bruhaha started when you arrested 11 of them and lynched one who is still on admission,even when the halls were convected there was peace, you think you can just impose rules on them withou, the students have representative why not sit with them,
i pity these student,the school has been there for so many years and has produced a lot of great people in our society,,,,,cant you think of it ,,--if all those past student vandalize the property will you be able to come with your ***barred word*** to enjoy these facility.the school has it own laws or rule, if you think you cant cope,just pack your self and let your parent build school for so you can ***barred word*** dere.
YOU MUST BLAME THE ***barred word*** NDC CHANCELLOR OF THE KNUST. NANA ACT NOW PLEASE, WE NEED PEACE IN KUMASI AND ENTIRE WHOLE GHANA, YOU GAVE HIM CHANCE BUT, HE DOESN'T WANT IT, SO SACK HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WE FEED UP WITH THESE KIND OF PEOPLE IN GHANA. WHY, HE HAD SHOWED SOO MANY WRONG ATTITUDE, HE MUST GO NOW, WE ARE TIRED OOOOO.
IT SAD THAT GHANAIANS ARE AFRAID TO CONDEMN THIS PRIMITIVEEEEE AND BARBARICCCC ACT OF KNUST STUDENTS. HISTORY TESTIFIES THAT DEMONSTRATORS WITH GENUINE CONCERNS DO NOT RESULT TO BRUTEEEE AND VIOLENCE TO ADDRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES. YES, PEEOPLE IN DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION EMBARK ON DEMONSTRATION BUT NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SENSEELEESSSS AND VIOLENT LIKE KNUST STUDENT. SRC OF KNUST IS A FAILED LEADERSHIP AND MUST BE PUNISHED FOR SUCH UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. I AM EXPECTING NUGS TO COME OUT MATURES AND TO CONDEMN SUCH UNCIVILISEEDD BEHAVIOUR AND NOT TO CONDONE IT. WHAT LEGACY ARE WE LEAVING TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION. THE BEHAVIOUR OF KNUST STUDENT IS SO BAD THAT IT DOES NOT BEFIT SECONDARY OR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. I EXPECT CIVIL SOCIETY, RELIGIOUS BODIES, AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES TO CONDEMN THIS UNRULYYYY BEHAVIOUR OF KNUST STUDENT IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS IMMEDIATELY. MANY OF KNUST STUDENT HAD JOIN THE DEMONSTRATION BUT HAD NOT DESIRED TO BE DESTRUCTIVE AND SENSELESSS. I EXPECT THE RIGHTTTT MINDED STUDENT TO HELP ANY INVESTIGATION BODY TO BE SET UP TO FISH OUT THE PERPERTRATORS OF THE VIOLENCE TO BE PUNISHED. THE CRIME COMMITTED FOR DESTROYING PROPERTIES MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE STUDENT. IT IS SHAMEFUL TO GHANA FOR PRODUCING SUCH INDISCIPLINE BUNCH OF PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SHOULD BECOME THINKERS AND CREATIVE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND NOT BRUTEE. ALL SHOULD CONDEMN THIS SHAMEFUL ACTION.
The VC Must K3k3 Dasoor!
***barred word*** ACTION FROM SOME KNUST STUDENTS. SO PATHETIC
Now they can go and have all the freedom to do whatever they want.. nun.sense! Is that how to protest if u think the uni authorities were not listening to you? Now who is going to pay for all these damages? I hope all those culprits will have criminal records and will not ever allowed to hold public service positions. This is uncalled for and i can’t really understand how some people are defending this and others politicising this. Appalling to say the least.
Kwame safa kai you are happy now the school is closed down i dont blame you
Flames of fire did not start with flames but started with smoke hence there is no fire without smoke. The university authorities must be blamed.All these problems started when the authorities not listen to wisdom to send female students to Katanga Hall. why too much tintintrinti?
***barred word*** ed10ts. in this day of civilization who goes on demonstration and destroy properties. u could have done a peaceful demonstration and make your case but look at your miserable lives now. most ple that takes demonstrations so personal and destroy properties have no aim. most of them are those who are probably sacked for nonperformance but just in the school to deceive their parents. now they have a good reason to go and stay at home. i share their sentiments but destroying properties is a stup1?d act and must be condemned.
The next demonstration may witness some of us the parents in solidarity with our wards, you think beatings and arresting will intimidate them, all this bruhaha started when you arrested 11 of them and lynched one who is still on admission,even when the halls were convected there was peace, you think you can just impose rules on them withou, the students have representative why not sit with them,
i pity these student,the school has been there for so many years and has produced a lot of great people in our society,,,,,cant you think of it ,,--if all those past student vandalize the property will you be able to come with your ***barred word*** to enjoy these facility.the school has it own laws or rule, if you think you cant cope,just pack your self and let your parent build school for so you can ***barred word*** dere.
YOU MUST BLAME THE ***barred word*** NDC CHANCELLOR OF THE KNUST. NANA ACT NOW PLEASE, WE NEED PEACE IN KUMASI AND ENTIRE WHOLE GHANA, YOU GAVE HIM CHANCE BUT, HE DOESN'T WANT IT, SO SACK HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WE FEED UP WITH THESE KIND OF PEOPLE IN GHANA. WHY, HE HAD SHOWED SOO MANY WRONG ATTITUDE, HE MUST GO NOW, WE ARE TIRED OOOOO.