KNUST alumni call for calm after violent student protests

Alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), are preaching calm as the school prepares to close down following violent student protests on Monday.

The KNUST Alumni Association in a statement said the use of violence in tensions between students and management was “totally unacceptable.”

“We therefore urge and appeal to all stakeholders, especially the leadership of the student body – SRC & GRASAG in particular, to employ all peaceful strategies to calm down the general students body and all others to stop further hostilities that are likely to lead to serious insecurities to human lives and further destruction of properties on Campus!”

The Association also said it has its eyes set on finding a lasting solution to the impasse.

“We are actively engaging all stakeholders by all means available to us to confirm the veracity of all these news making the rounds, especially on social media, investigate to find the immediate and root causes of what is leading to all these disturbances with the aim of finding lasting and agreeable solutions to all parties.”

What triggered the latest protests

The arrest of 10 students and one alumnus of the school compelled the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) to mobilise for the Monday protest.

The students were arrested for a holding vigil on campus last Friday without permission, according to the school authorities.

One other student who was allegedly manhandled by the internal security was hospitalised at the KNUST hospital.

The Executive Council of the SRC said the demonstration was necessary to convey students’ frustration over disrespect and oppression by the school.

The arrests came after the KNUST management served notice that it had suspended the organisation of vigils (morales) in the school.

The management said this was because of “several negative issues encountered recently with respect to morales in the hall.”

Some of the protestors called for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.

The SRC said the actions of the campus security and the police officers were a “gross deviation” because the two agencies were rather to protect them.

The council also promised students that it would ensure the security officers who allegedly manhandled students were held accountable whilst urging students to remain calm.

Over twenty students have been arrested following the incident.

Find below the full statement

PRESS RELEASE: VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION ON KNUST CAMPUS, KUMASI

The Global KNUST Alumni learns with deep regret and revulsion of injuries sustained by some members of the University Community, wanton destruction of property, as well as disruption of lectures on KNUST Campus, Kumasi, today, 22nd October, 2018, during what was purported to have been a peaceful demonstration.

While acknowledging that disputes between University Authorities and the student body may occur from time to time, the use of violence and destruction to resolve such disputes are totally unacceptable.

We are actively engaging all stakeholders by all means available to us to confirm the veracity of all these news making the rounds, especially on social media, investigate to find the immediate and root causes of what is leading to all these disturbances with the aim of finding lasting and agreeable solutions to ALL PARTIES. We therefore urge and appeal to ALL STAKEHOLDERS, especially the LEADERSHIP of the student body – SRC & GRASAG in particular, to employ all peaceful strategies to calm down the general students body and all others to stop further hostilities that are likely to lead to serious insecurities to human lives and further destruction of properties on Campus! As important stakeholders, sharing a common heritage – Kwame Nkrumah University Science and Technology (KNUST), let us work together to ensure peaceful coexistence, tolerance & forbearance, uplifting the image of our great University to the highest possible heights TOGETHER.

We owe this to our forbearers, ourselves and posterity!!!

Source: citifmonline.com