"Vandals" present petition to Government

Accra, May 7, GNA - Mr. Joshua Laari, President of Junior Common Room (JCR) of Commonwealth Hall, University of

Ghana, Legon on Thursday presented a petition about the welfare of students of the facility to Government. The four-page petition, which was presented to Mr. Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information at

the main gate of the university talked about the worsening situation of students on campus. "It is regrettable to note that the enactment, promulgation and implementation of polices on the land of the

premiere university does not take into account the inputs of students left alone their interest," the petition said. The students slammed the 2007 introduction of the In-Out-Out-Out Residential Policy as well as the implementation

of what it described as an extortive GHc20.00 Predictive Breakages Fees. "Students of Commonwealth Hall, with their high sense of esprit de corps, togetherness and academic prowess

always maintain collective stance in the face of policies that seek to make tertiary education a preserve and reserve of

the rich. "The entire JCR strongly believes that the social democratic agenda of the NDC (National Democratic Congress) led

government will not only make education accessible but shall invariably protect the genuine interest of students of

Ghana more especially Commonwealth Hall (Vandals). "The general welfare of the students of Commonwealth Hall has not only become the topical issue of the day but has

assumed a dimension of undue authoritative interference through the enactment of policies that are not only

administratively flawed but do not also take into consideration the plight of the less privilege students. The petition said the policy of Reconstituting Commonwealth Hall into a "Mixed Graduates Hall" during the 2010/11

academic year is not only administratively flawed but also inhumane. It alleged that the university's disciplinary mechanism was being used to intimidate and victimise students who are

assertive, vocal and ready to stand for the course of their colleagues. "This is gradually plunging the university into a state of coma and community of silence where the ability to assert.

rights as a students is a fierce battle against rustication, dismissal and suspension or withholding of degree or

certificate. "This indeed is a source of worry not only to the students of Commonwealth Hall but all Ghanaian students, since

freedom of speech is nearly absent in most tertiary institutions with University of Ghana being the front runner."

The petition said the Students' Loan scheme established decades ago is gradually outliving its essence and priority,

saying students now lament and complain bitterly before the credit facility is giving to them. "A major issue of concern is the time of disbursement, the compound interest on the loan and the worse of it all the

meagre nature of the loan." The students called on government to call on the Academic Board and University Council to annul the policy of

reconstituting Commonwealth Hall into a Mixed Graduate Hall. Government should also institute an independent committee of enquiry to probe the financial standing of the

Students Representative Council Hostel Project Fund as well as the structural edifice of the university. The petition asked the Visitation Panel Report Implementation Committee to execute the key and sensitive

recommendations of the report to meet the aspirations of students of Commonwealth Hall and beyond. It called on the ruling NDC to intervene on behalf of student leaders and activists who by dint of their commitment

to the course of students face the grips of rustication, dismissal and suspension or withholding of their certificates. The petition appealed to the management of Students Loan Trust Fund to facilitate the early disbursement of the

loan, increase the meagre amount as well as review the harsh compound interest associated with the credit facility. "Students of Commonwealth Hall guided by the motto: 'Truth Stands' shall remain resolute for 72hrs whilst your

high office responds to our concerns else we shall storm the law to have our demands met accordingly. "Many thanks in Freedom and Justice," the petition concluded.

PETITION GENERAL WELFARE OF THE STUDENTS OF COMMONWEALTH HALL, UNIVERSITY OF GHANA.

"We the students of Commonwealth Hall, University of Ghana, mindful of the mission statement of the premiere

university which do not reflect the introduction of policies, would like to bring to the attention of your noble office the

worsening situation of students of University of Ghana particularly Commonwealth Hall find themselves. It is

regrettable to note that the enactment, promulgation and implementation of polices on the land of the premiere

university does not take into account the inputs of students left along their interest. The 2007introduction of the In-

Out-Out-Out Residential Policy as well as an implementation of an extortive GHC20.00 Predictive Breakages Fees, the

illegitimate implementation of a CGPA of 3.0 in the conduct of SRC elections, quack disciplinary system of the university

speak volume of this.

Students of Commonwealth Hall, with their high sense of espirit de corp, togetherness, academic prowess always

maintain collected stance in the face of policies that seek to make tertiary education a preserve and reserve of the rich.

The entire JCR strongly believes that the social democratic agenda of the NDC led government will not only make

education accessible but shall invariably protect the genuine interest of students of Ghana more especially

Commonwealth Hall (Vandals).

The general welfare of the students of Commonwealth Hall has not only become the topical issue of the day but has

assumed a dimension of undue authoritative interference through the enactment of policies that are not only

administratively flawed but do not also take into consideration the plight of the less privilege students. Following a

unanimous resolution by the Junior Common Room of Commonwealth Hall dated 30th April, 2010, I wish to bring to

the notice of your high office the anguishes of students of Commonwealth Hall (Vandals).

i. INTRODUCTION OF ACADEMIC AND RESIDENTIAL POLICIES.

The past three years have witnessed unacceptable residential policies with a seemingly hostel driven agenda. The

failed implementation of the In-Out-Out-Out Residential Policy in the 2006/07 academic year is a living testimony. The

introduction of the GHC 20.00 Refundable Predictive Breakage Fee which is not only exploitative but unth8inkable is a

buttress of all. More so, the policy that guides its annual increment of Residential Facility User Fee is amorphous.

The regulation that guides the administration of private hostels promotes a high fee charge which is unfriendly to the

financial capacity of the less privilege student. In the face of all these stalemate, the policy of Reconstituting

Commonwealth Hall into a "Mixed Graduates Hall" comes the 2010/11 academic is not only administratively flawed but

rather it is inhumane, hostel-driven, tactical means of collapse students' activism and leadership and more so a

purposeful act to create an ungovernable Ghana.

A major issue of concern to the students of Commonwealth Hall is the premises for the introduction of the policy. The

overblown media attack on the Vandal City with respect to the 13th March, 2010 Congregation clouded in a purported

heckling of H.E. Kofi Annan strategy is very unfounded and lighthearted.

ii. SRC HOSTEL PROJECT FUND

The establishment of the SRC Hostel Project fund in the 2002/3 academic year by the students' body to ameliorate the

worsening accommodation crisis has received little attention by the management of University of Ghana. The Fund

which is GHC 1.2million rich as of today is being poorly managed by authorities. This has created a vacuum of apathy

since students do not see the value of the fund's contribution. In wake of this development, the university is much

interested in the sporadic spread of hostels with exorbitant charges.

iii 2007 VISITATION PANEL REPORT

The constitution of eminent panel with rich, experienced and diversified background in 2006/7 academic year to peruse,

amend and review the scope of operation of the university in the area of management, governance and infrastructural

development is gradually becoming a white elephant. Considering the revealing issues raised by the panel with an

affirmative endorsement by the University Council, the students of Commonwealth Halll see it as a sheer contradiction

on how the recommnedations are being implemented and more the involvement of sltudents with respect to lits

promulgation.

iv. INTIMIDATION AND VICTIMIZATION OF STUDENTS, LEADERS AND ACTIVISS.

It is becoming unbearable on how the university disciplinary mechanism intimidages and victimizes students who are

assertive, vocal and ready to stand for the course of the students' population. This is gradually plunging the university

into a state of comma and community of silence where the ability to assert your rights as a students is a fierce battle

against rusticatyion, dismislsal and suspension or withholding of degree or certificate. A good example in recnt years is

Mr. Oduro Takyi Bernard (Immediate past JCR President). This indeed is a source of worry not only to lthe students of

Commonwealth Halll but all Ghanaian students since freedom of speech is nearly absent in most tertiary institutions

with University of Ghana being the fron runner.

v. STUDENT' LOAN

Students Loan established in decades ago is gradually outliving its essence and priority. It is very sad how students

lament and complain bitterly before the students' loan is being disbursed. A major issued of concern is the time of

disbursement, the compound interest on the loan and the worse of it all the meager nature of the loan.

On behalf of the students of Commonwealth Hall, we wish to humbly and passionately call on your office to

affirmatively response to the above teething issues by;

1. Calling on the Academic Board and University Council to annul the policy of reconstituting Commonwealth Hall into a

l"Mixed Graduate Hall" come 2010/11 academic year.

2. Instituting an Independent Committee of Enquiry to probe into the financial standing of the SRC Hostel Project Fund

as well as the structural edifice of the university.

3. Calling on the Visitation Panel Report Implementation Committee to execute the key and sensitive recommendations

of the report to meet the aspirations of students of Commonwealth Hall and beyond.

4. Intervening for students' leaders and activists whom by dint of their pro-activity and commitment to the course of

students face the grips of rustication, dismissal and suspension or withholding of degrees of certificates.

5. Calling on the management of Students Loan Trust Fund to facilitate the early disbursement of the loan, increase the

meager amount as well as reviewing the harsh compound interest associated the loan.

Students of Commonwealth Hall guided by the motto; "Truth Stands" shall remain resolute for 72hrs whilst your high

office responds to our concerns else we shall storm the law to have our demands meet accordingly. Many thanks in

"Freedom and Justice'.

Sincerely yours,

Signed JOSHUA LAARI JCR PRESIDENT, COMMONWEALTH HALL 0541827501

cc:- The Vice President, Republic of GhaChief Justice, Republic of Ghana, Speaker of Parliament, Republic of Ghana Chief of Staff, Republic of Ghana Minister of Education Chairman, Parliamentary Select Committee on Education National Council for Tertiary Education Member of Parliament, Ayawaso West Wuogon All Vice Chancellors, Ghana, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana, Registrar, University of Ghana Dean of Students, University of Ghana, President, NUGS] All Media Houses."GNA