General News of Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Source: citinewsroom.com
2018-10-24
KNUST students protesting over brutality
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), has condemned the violent protest by students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of science and technology (KNUST) on Monday morning, October 22, 2018, which has led to the closure of the institution.
UTAG in a statement said it is monitoring events closely and would work with stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem at hand.
In a statement signed by the National President of UTAG, Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah, the Association expressed appreciation to the management of the University and the Ashanti Regional Security Council for its careful handling of the situation.
They also cautioned political actors to desist from unguarded comments and leave the authority of the university to fix the situation at hand.
Over twenty students of the KNUST, were arrested after students demonstration turned violent on Monday morning, October 22, 2018.
The students were protesting over alleged brutalities meted out to their colleagues who were arrested at the University Hall last Friday and later granted bail.
There is heavy armed military and police presence on the KNUST campus after the protest led to the destruction of private and public properties.
Items destroyed
Andrews Kwasi Boateng, the Registrar of the KNUST in an interview said items destroyed as a result of the protest include;
30 vehicles belonging to the staff of the university have been burnt.
The reception of the main administrative block, the office of the dean of students, finance office and the offices of the university relations and security offices were demolished.
The official vehicle of the Dean of Student Affairs was destroyed.
14 motorbikes of campus security officers have been vandalized.
Laptops, mobile phones, ladies’ handbag and the other items in offices which were broken into were ransacked.
Access and controlled gates were also destroyed.
Dozens of residents of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have vacated the campus following a directive by the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) that the school be closed down.
Asantehene summons KNUST VC, other stakeholders over chaotic protest
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who’s the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has summoned the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwabena Obiri Danso, the students’ leadership and other stakeholders over Monday’s violent protest to a meeting on Thursday.
Bantamahene, Baafour Amankwatia VI, who led members of the Kumasi Traditional Council to the KNUST on behalf of the Asantehene expressed worry about the level of destruction on campus, which he said was unprecedented.
Education and National security Ministers meet KNUST Management
Government has already commenced discussions with all relevant stakeholders to address the matter.
The Ministers of Information, Education and the National Security, met the management of the University, the students’ leadership and members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council today, Tuesday, for a crunch meeting at the University.