The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi has been shut down indefinitely.
It followed a violent protest staged on the University’s campus on Monday by the students against police brutalities.
The students have accused management of the school of deliberately abusing their rights. They also claim officials have allowed the police to brutalize some of them.
Announcing the shutdown, the Ashanti regional minister, Simon Osei Mensah said the decision was reached in consultation with the Regional Security Council.
He told local media that “We need to ensure that some of the security gadgets that have been destroyed are replaced. So in short, we have given directives to the vice chancellor and his team that they should issue a statement immediately after our press briefing that the school is closed and there is the imposition of a curfew from 6 pm today up 6 am tomorrow morning.”
He said the students have up to 12:00 GMT on Tuesday to vacate the university campus.
One injured, 11 arrested
At least one student has been reported injured with 11 others arrested after the students brawled with the University’s internal security on Sunday.
The students were arrested for holding vigil on campus last Friday. The management of the school said the students didn’t seek permission.
During Monday’s protest, the students vandalized properties of the school, local media reports.
The protesting students, burnt down the official vehicle of the Dean of Students. They also pillaged the Vice Chancellor’s office.
Eiii I thought it was going to be a peaceful demonstration ooo…. Now the Dean’s car is in flames ?? Kat and Conti boys ?? #KNUST pic.twitter.com/Em2FDZ7vio
— Emmanuel Frimpong (@FrimpEmmanuel) October 22, 2018
There was a boycott of classes as well before the demonstration which turned violent.
Protest not intended to be violent
A member of the University’s students’ representative council (SRC) told Accra based Starr FM that the protest was supposed to have been peaceful but emotions got heightened and out of control.
“We made our minds to have a peaceful gathering. But what has happened was out of control,” said the SRC member.
“It was not our intention.”
Police and military officers have been deployed to the school to restore order.
Source: Africafeeds.com
