Legon disciplines eight students

The University of Ghana (UG) on Tuesday announced that it has taken disciplinary action against eight of its students, who have variously been found guilty of unlawful assembly, illegal procession, destruction of property and assault.

The disciplinary action ranges from a caution, rustication to outright dismissal.

The eight students have been identified as part of a group of Commonwealth Hall students who, on the September 19, 2003, held an unlawful assembly and embarked on an illegal march to the Vice-Chancellor's Lodge to register their unhappiness over a spell of water shortage in the hall but ended up vandalising property, assaulting the security personnel and in the process traumatising the family of the Vice-Chancellor.

A statement the UG issued in Accra said an investigative committee, and a disciplinary committee which reviewed the formers' report, identified and found the eight students to have breached various regulations as contained in "the regulations for junior members," and the university's matriculation oath as a result of their actions on September 19, 2003.

On the recommendations of the two investigative bodies, two of the students have been summarily dismissed for unlawful procession, destruction of property and assault on the security staff on duty. They are Mr Godwin Akuffo Antwi and Mr Lord Hammah.

For the active roles they played in the proceedings of the unlawful forum, Mr Christian Deegbey and Mr Daniel Ofori-Atta Marfo have been rusticated for four semesters each and may resume their studies from the first semester of 2005/06 academic-year.

All the rusticated and dismissed students have been requested to surrender all university property currently in their possession to the University Administration.

Four students, Mr Malcom Frazier Appeadu, Mr Alexander Abban, Mr Bingle Musah Faisal and Mr Gyedu Acheampong have been cautioned against taking part in any future unauthorised gathering on campus and have been directed to re-take the matriculation oath which requires them to observe the regulations of the University of Ghana.

"The regulations for junior members" of the university stipulates among other things that any student or students wishing to organise a procession/demonstration in the university shall notify the Dean of Students in writing with a copy to the Registrar at least three days before the procession/demonstration is due to begin.

It further stipulates that if any acts of violence and/or breach of university, hall or other regulation occur during a procession/demonstration or other mass action the perpetrators as well as the organisers shall be held jointly and severally responsible.

"The Regulations" also prohibits processions/demonstrations between the hours of 1800 hours and 0600 hours.

"The University entreats students to endeavour to abide by the regulations of the University and that no effort would be spared to maintain the integrity of the University as a whole," the statement said.