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The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), is calling for the removal of Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso as the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

They are also asking for the removal from office, the dean of students and the head of the School's security.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, President of NUGS, Elisha Oheneba Assuming explained that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso and the authorities of the school failed to show leadership in the wake of the KNUST violence.

Though they condemned the destruction of properties, he added the demonstration was worth it because efforts to bring the attention of the University authorities about the brutalities meted out on students failed.

We are writing a petition to the president for him to act before things get out of hand.

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.

School Closed Down

Students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [KNUST] were 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.

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.