REGSEC orders KNUST students to leave campus by Saturday
The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has directed all Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) students to leave the school premises by midday, September 18.
According to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, this is to avert any intended action to disturb the peace on campus by some students of rival halls of residences, the University Hall (Katanga) and Unity Hall (Continental).
In a statement issued on September 15 by Mr Osei-Mensah, he stated that they had gathered intelligence that some students have planned to engage in riots on campus on the eve of Friday, September 17, 2021.
It was contained in the statement that the directive was to “ensure that peace and sanity are maintained on the KNUST campus and that students leave on holiday to their homes in peace.”
Nonetheless, the directive exempted international students and others who have received authorisation from the school’s management to stay on campus after the holiday date.
The statement indicated that per the investigations by the security services, tension had been mounting between the two halls in recent times, with the intended commotion being triggered by the long-standing animosity between two rival halls.
“It is instructive to remind the student population that the declaration of the University campus as a security zone in November 2018 is still in force. Therefore, it is an offence to demonstrate within the security zone,” REGSEC cautioned.
“Acts of indiscipline and vandalism will no longer be tolerated at the KNUST,” REGSEC warned.
It further stated that should students decide to misbehave and engage in acts of indiscipline and criminality, they would be handled in accordance with the law.
Parents and guardians have been urged to caution their wards to stay out of trouble and adhere to the directive issued as REGSEC intensifies security presence on the campus as KNUST rounds off academic activities for the semester.
Video: KNUST Katanga, Conti Clash Leaves Scores Of Students Injured
It would be recalled that there was a clash between the University Hall and Unity Hall members at the KNUST Great Hall on July 3, during the vetting of aspirants for the Students Representative Council (SRC) positions.
This led to some students suffering injuries, while school properties such as tables and chairs were destroyed.
Following the clash, the school’s management placed an indefinite ban on Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.