Takoradi Polytechnic closes down

Takoradi, June 1,-GNA- Takoradi Polytechnic has been closed down indefinitely on Friday following student unrest and refusal to write examinations.

The students, clad in red arm and head bands and red T shirts besieged the entrance to the school, blocked access roads and prevented those who wanted to write their examinations from doing so. A statement signed by Mr. Jones Addai-Mensah, Polytechnic Secretary said the school had been closed down indefinitely and all students should leave the campus and halls of residence by 1200 hours on Friday.

Around 0800 hours on Friday, about 40 policemen who had been detailed to ensure law and order came under attack by stone throwing students who felt agitated by the presence of the Police. The Police, in their bid to quell the rioting, used several rounds of teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd and had so far arrested over 50 of them. The students however, re-grouped and continued throwing stones until reinforcement was called in from the Takoradi Mobile Force, Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) and Central Police Station to beef up the security team.

The students burnt tyres and barricaded the roads leading to the school.

Many students fainted, while tears poured from others as a result of tear gas.
Three of them had to be rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention, while others relied on nearby standpipes to wash their faces to neutralise the teargas. Briefing the media later, Mr. Kofi Duku Arthur, Western Regional Police Commander said the police would continue to remain on the Polytechnic campus to restore law and order. He noted that it was sad that the students had decided to use "boycott of academic work" to create confusion in town. Mr. Arthur said the use of teargas had proved effective against the over 700 students and all those arrested would be prosecuted. Several residents of 'New Site' a suburb of Takoradi, where the Polytechnic was located also suffered from the effects of the teargas.
Some of the victims expressed disgust about the use of teargas by the Police, while at the same time harbouring stone throwing students in their homes.
Mr. Arthur said it was reasonably for all those who had refused to write the examinations to go to their hostels and remain quiet instead of using force to prevent others from writing their examinations. On May 29, National executives of the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) in a letter signed by Abdullai A. Faili, Press and Information Officer, Paul Obeng Atiemo acting president, called for the immediate dismissal of the principal Dr. Sameul Obeng Apori for incompetence, lack of control over the school and mismanagement of finances.
They described reports in the media about remarks made by the principal as, "untrue, biased, and disgraceful".
They said by the principal's admission that irresponsible acts had taken place on campus over the years was a sign of lack of responsibility and control over the student population. They also accused the principal of conducting an illegal Students Representative Council (SRC) elections and aiding and abetting in the misuse of the SRC funds without any accountability. They claimed to have taken over the Takoradi SRC functions until fresh elections were held and new executives elected.
"Not until the Principal resigns, the union will not allow its students to write the examinations. 01 June 07