University of Ghana
Registrar’s Offices

P.0. Box 25,
Legon.
30th October, 1968.

PRESS RELEASE

The general public is aware that over the past week there have been disturbances and demonstrations by students of the University of Ghana originating over disciplinary action taken against five students of Mensah Sarbah Hall. The University authorities have made every effort to bring those disturbances under control and to provide for a fair and impartial review of the alleged grievances.

To this and the University authorities agreed to the appointment of an Appeal Committee to which the students were invited to make a nomination – which would review the cases of the students concerned, and make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor.

The University authorities however refused to reinstate the students concerned, as demanded by the Students’ Representative Council, in their Hall of residence even before the Appeal Committee had had the opportunity to make a recommendation on this and other matters. Despite the fact that the University authorities had made suitable arrangements, including the provision of accommodation and transport,  to enable the students to appear before the Appeal Committee, the Students’ Representative Council continued to insist upon the immediate reinstatement of the students concerned. When the Vice-Chancellor met members of the Students’ Representative Council on Sunday night, 27th October, he received from them an assurance that the students had decided to discontinue their boycott of lectures and to resume attendance. Accordingly lectures were formally resumed on Tuesday morning, 29th October.

However, in the afternoon of the same day a large crowd of students, led by the Students’ Representative Council marched on the offices of the Vice-Chancellor and staged a noisy and violent demonstration. The ostensible purpose of this noisy demonstration was to present to the Vice-Chancellor a statement of their stand on the issues involved. While the Vice-Chancellor vas in conference with the members of the Students’ Representative Council in his office, tho noisy demonstrations continued unabated and stones and sticks wore hurled at the office windows and doors, glass panes were smashed, considerable damage was done and the walls of the veranda leading to the Vice-Chancellor’s office were covered with obscene cartoons and scrawls and abusive and scurrilous graffiti.

Members of the Students’ Representative Council made unavailing efforts to quell the unruly disturbances in order that their discussions with the Vice-Chancellor might proceed. When this proved to be impossible, the meeting was discontinued. Those noisy demonstrations, in fact, occurred at the very time when the Appeal Committee had begun its work and was in session.

From all this, it was clear that there was no effective student leadership. It was also evident that certain sections of the student community had decided that whenever there was any matter in dispute they would resort to noisy demonstrations and violence in order to gain their onds.

The Executive Committee of the Academic Board which met thc same evening to consider this latest development came to the conclusion that whatever the rights and wrongs of the students’ grievances, this latest outrage and the whole trend of events of the past ten days could no longer be allowed to continue. The Executive Committee accordingly decided that in such an atmosphere, it was no longer possible for the University to continue to fulfil its normal functions and that the University must close down.

A belated apology was received from the Students’ Representative Council this morning regretting “the untoward incident” and offering to repaint the walls defaced by their scurrilous obscenities. But it is even clear from the apology that not much worth can be attached to this apology as previous assurances by the students have not been respected by them.

The Executive Committee has therefore confirmed this morning its decision to close down the University and accordingly all students have been asked to vacate the precincts of the University by 11.30 this morning until further notice.

The University is however anxious that the Appeal Committee continues its work and that the students concerned are given a fair hearing. In spite of the present situation, therefore, the Appeal Committee will continue its sittings.

SIGNED
(E. A.K. Taxi)
REGISTRAR
The Principal Secretary,
Ministry of Information,
Accra.

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