Ghana Education News-Scores of students and alumni from two famous halls at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University (Katanga) and Unity (Conti) halls, this morning took the streets of Kumasi by storm when they demonstrated their displeasure at the decision by their school authorities to make their respective male halls mixed.
As early as 6am, the students who showcased two coffins and wearing red attire while wielding placards with various inscriptions depicted their opprobrium to the decision as they marched from their campuses to the central business district of Kumasi.
Meandering their way through the Asafo roundabout with bold inscriptions such as ‘’VC you are liar’’, ‘’Bawumia remember your promise’’ and ‘’Nana Addo say something’’ amongst others the students headed off the route of Alabar through to Asawase and took the Manhyia-Palace stretch where they later presented a written petition to the Asantehene.
With of Police presence, the students comported themselves despite some occasional acrobatics that drew the attention of pedestrians as well as passengers who plied the streets early today.
CONCERNS:
Speaking to this reporter, Gideon Ofosu from the Unity hall said the reasons behind the conversion of the halls to mixed ones are not tangible.
Rather than turning the traditional halls into mixed, he urged the school authorities to put up all female halls at the school so they can implement the system of getting more females into the university.
Alfred Gyimah, Unity Hall spokesperson called on Otumfuo to come to their aid, adding the current VC does not show respect to the views of anybody apart from himself.
The decision to turn the halls into mixed, he claimed is being forced on them by the Vice-Chancellor who is determined to break the student’s front.
RESPONSE:
Speaking on behalf of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Ankobeahene assured the students of forwarding the petition to the Asanteman Overlord.
He commended the students for comporting themselves well in their public protest.
He, however, urged them to go back to campus and wait for Otumfuo’s response on the petition.
The Asantehene remains the life Chancellor of the University and has for about 25 years seen to the development of the KNUST and its facilities.
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