The vice president of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Enoch Pagato Kwarteng, has revealed that management of the University make decisions without respect for their freedom of expression.
Speaking on ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ he said ‘’we need a university management that will listen to our grievances.”
Narrating the incidents that led to the Monday unrest at the school, he said ‘’On Friday, a planned students’ customary procession – which has lost favour with university authorities – was thwarted by campus-based security. This led to 10 students and one alumnus of the school being arrested.’’
“One other student who was manhandled by campus security is currently on admission at the KNUST hospital.’’ He added.
He also gave some instances he believes proof that management has subverted their freedoms as students.
‘’ Management issued a directive that all clubs on campus should pay their dues into one account, and the funds managed by the Dean of students. Students leadership protested but management still went ahead to implement that directive.’’
‘’Management also merged all the Hall week celebrations into one week. There are student entrepreneurs who ply their trade during hall weeks, there are some very needy students who use these hall weeks to raise some needed income. But school authorities merged these hall weeks into one week with blatant disregard for students,’’ He said.
He however, demanded that the Vice Chancellor Prof. Kwasi Obiri Danso issue a communique apologising to the entire student body and called for the security men to have their names visibly embossed on their uniforms to make it easier for students to identify rogue security men. He encouraged management to also give proper orientation and training to security personnel before employing them. He finally demanded school authorities to respect the views of student in matters concerning student welfare.
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has however, commended the KNUST SRC for not bowing to the Authoritarian behaviour of management. Despite emphasizing that they do not support violence and vandalism.
By: Bridget Mensah
