PHOTOS: KNUST shut down indefinitely; curfew imposed
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, have been closed indefinitely with immediate effect, according to the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwesi Mensah Duku.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command, in conjunction with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and school authorities, have also imposed 6 am to 6 pm curfew at the university to maintain calm.
Speaking with an interview with Otec News, DCOP Duku on Monday, October 22, 2018, he said the security has been beefed up to control the uneasy calm and has warned to arrest any person or group of persons that might try to pollute the atmosphere with disturbances.
“We have deployed more security personnel at the university. By 12 pm tomorrow (Tuesday) we expect all students to leave the campus and every student caught after the time will be arrested and prosecuted,” he added.
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) condemned the alleged assault of some students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) by the school’s security squad and some police personnel.
NUGS, in a statement, said it supports the demonstration by the students as well as their boycott of lectures.
Soldiers have been deployed to the University to augment efforts by the police to control rampaging students.
20 students, and one alumnus, were arrested on Friday and subsequently, students threatened a demonstration to register their displeasure at what they describe as ‘harsh’ treatments being metted out to them by authorities. The strike which included boycotting lectures became intense when some students in the Katanga hall in their agitation, destroyed some school property’s and ransacked the office of the Vice Chancellor.
They also burned down the official vehicle of the Dean of Students and ransacked security post on the school’s premises. The Education Ministry, in a statement dated 22nd October and signed by Director of Communications, Vincent Ekow Assafuah indicated that a delegation will be sent to deliberate with authorities on the ongoing raucous to find lasting solutions.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Ministry of Education, led by the Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh will be meeting university authorities on Tuesday.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
