Management of the University of Ghana has revoked the accommodation of all continuing male members of Commonwealth Hall and the Mensah Sarbah Hall after the latest clashes involving these two halls on campus.

In a statement signed by the Registrar of the University, the residents are to be randomly assigned to available rooms in any of the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited Hostel (UGEl) and private hostels.

The statement furthered that, continuing female students of Mensah Sarbah Hall and students with special needs in both halls will not be affected.

According to the University Council, the recommendations were from the residence and Academic Board, regarding changes to student residence arrangements and the changes were requested by the council of the University following the repeated incidences of violence involving students on campus.

“All continuing students of Commonwealth Hall and continuing male students of Mensah Sarbah Hall will not return to these halls, or to any of the traditional halls. They are to be randomly assigned to available rooms in any of the UGEL and private hostels. Continuing female students of Mensah Sarbah Hall and students with special needs in both halls will not be affected by this measure,” the statement said.

On the other hand, the registrar added that beginning from the 2022/2023 academic year, only level 100 and graduate students (Master’s and PhD level) will be assigned to the Mensah Sarbah and Commonwealth Halls.

Additionally, the university is installing CCTV cameras and Electronic Access control systems in all halls to improve security.

Further details on these will be announced before the beginning of the 2022/2023 academic year.

Read the full statement below;

ARRANGEMENTS FOR STUDENTS’ RESIDENCE FROM 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

The University Council has deliberated on recommendations from the Residence Board and the Academic Board regarding changes to student residence arrangements. These changes were requested by Council following repeated incidences of violence involving students.

Council approved the following measures to take effect from the start of the 2022/2023 academic year, which are to prevent future occurrences of violence:

• All continuing students of Commonwealth Hall and continuing male students of Mensah Sarbah Hall will not return to these halls, or to any of the traditional halls. They are to be randomly assigned to available rooms in any of the UGEL and private hostels. Continuing female students of Mensah Sarbah Hall and students with special needs in both halls will not be affected by this measure.

• Beginning from the 2022/2023 academic year, only Level 100 and graduate students (Masters and PhD level) will be assigned to Mensah Sarbah and Commonwealth Halls. Subsequently, undergraduate students will vacate the halls at the end of Level 100 and may secure accommodation in the private hostels from Level 200 until completion.

• Level 100 students who opt for traditional halls will be randomly assigned to the halls.

• Progressively, all the traditional halls (Mensah Sarbah, Commonwealth, Volta, Legon and Akuafo halls) will be reserved for Level 100 and graduate students only, culminating into a full in-out-out-out policy by 2025/2026.
Additionally, the University is installing CCTV cameras and Electronic Access control systems in all halls to improve upon security.

All students are to take note of these arrangements. Further details on these will be announced before the beginning of the 2022/2023 academic year.

Registrar

AM/WA