File No. HR, 30.                                                                                                                 Information Paper No.92. 

RECENT CLOSURE OF UNIVERSITIES IN GHANA 

Events leading to the closure of Universities in Ghana on 11th February, 1974 and developments which took place later in the day, are set out in the notes of an Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee with Heads of Halls and Senior Tutors and the Dean of Students. These are attached as an Appendix. It is clear from the account of events on that day that students of the three Universities had demonstrated against the alleged beating up of a student of the University of Ghana, George Kwasi Doh, by the military at Ho. 

2. The Students’ Representative Council of the University of Ghana had the opportunity of receiving advice from the Vice-Chancellor, during its meeting on the night of 10th February 1974. He counselled against the propriety of student demonstrations on the issue and the timing of any such demonstration within the context of the wave of student activism in other African countries. Instead, the Vice-Chancellor undertook to present to the Government a well reasoned petition on the grievances from the student body supported by facts with a view to seeking appropriate redress. The Students Representative Council thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his advice and assured him that it would take such advice into account in reaching a decision on what action the student body should take in the circumstances. During the same night, special student emissaries were sent to the University of Science & Technology, Kumasi and the University of Cape Coast to enlist support through demonstrations. The next morning, students of the three Universities all staged demonstrations almost simultaneously against alleged military and police brutalities in the country. The Government responded by closing down the three Universities.
3. The Government also set up a Committee of Enquiry made up of the following:- 

Mr. K. Gyeke-Dako, Director of Public Prosecutions—Chairman 
Dr. W. C. Ekow-Daniels, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana—Member 
Lt. Col. K. Adu-Bediako, Director-General of Logistics, Ministry of Defence—Member 
Rev. W. G. M. Brandful, General Secretary, Christian Council of Ghana—Member
Mr. G. H. Evans, Technician, Geodetic Engineer ing Department, U.S.T. —Member 
Mr. K.E. Nsaful, Principal Assistant Secretary, National Council for Higher Education—Secretary 

to enquire into:

(a) the circumstances which led to the recent demonstration by the students of the University of Ghana, University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast; and 

(b) any other matter which the Committee deems fit. 

This Committee reported to the Government on 5th March, 1974. Before then, the Chairmen of the three University Councils considered it impor- tant to discuss possibilities of an early re-opening of the Universities with the Head of State on 1st March, 1974. The Vice-Chancellors of the University of Ghana and the University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, were in attendance at this meeting. The Head of State informed the Chairmen of the University Councils that the Government would decide on what steps it should take in re-opening the Universities when it had received the report of the Committee of Enquiry. He also assured them that no time would be wasted by the Government in taking such decisions. 

4. Up till now the Government has not been in a position to state when the Universities will be reopened. The University has, therefore, had to postpone indefinitely the Special Congregation for the award of honorary degrees and the Silver Jubilee Congregation and other activities related to the celebration of the Silver Jubilee.

15th March, 1974.

Read part 1 here
Read part 3 here 
Read George Doh's  personal account