“Student Militia” 

50. The coming into being and the role of the so-called “Student Militia” in the recent disturbances need to be carefully detailed. The letter of the Dean of Students (Appendix VI) to the Vice-Chancellor should be read together with our report. As a result of an agitation of students to get their food allowance out of the Government grant of ₵900.00 increased from ₵2.00 to ₵2.50, the S.R. C. Executive (Blay Government), set up a P.A.Y.E. committee comprising Messrs. Yirenkyi popularly known as Ojukwu, K. Ossei-Mensah popularly known as Kofi Kastro and Max Donkor to consider the details of the case and prepare a “position paper” on which to base students’ representation on the issue at the Residence Board. Mr. Yirenkyi and Os sei-Mensah attended the Residence Board meeting which considered the issue on 15th November as special advisers to the S.R.C. government. Following that meeting, Mr. Blay formed the view that the existence of the P.A.Y.E. committee would prejudice rather than help the delicate negotiations. He decided, therefore, to abolish the P.A. Y.E. Committee whereupon the members of the dissolved committee quickly constituted themselves into what they called the “Student Militia” with two objects: 
51. a) to remove the members of the S.R.C. from office because they stood in the way of the £2.50 claim; b) to press on with the fight for a ₵2.50 food allowance. 

The leaders of the “Student Militia” are Yirenkyi (Ojukwu) Ossei-Mensah (Kastro), Hamilton (Karl Marx), and Max Donkor. 

51. The first effective action of the Militia was to get the S.R.C. government removed. Mr. Yirenkyi and Ossei-Mensah led the campaign to get Mensah-Sarbah, Commonwealth and Logon Halls to pass a vote of no-confidence in the Blay Administration. Akuafo Hall and Volta Hall did not support the vote of no-confidence. The procedure adopted to secure these votes was apparently improper and the Judicial Committee of tho S.R.C. has declared the removal from office of the Blay government to be of no effect. However, since the Blay administration was shortly due to leave office and had organised an election to select their successors,. they have refused to put up a fight. There has, therefore, been created a political hiatus with the coming into existence of pro-Blay and anti-Blay factions on Campus. In the confusion thus created, the “militia” appears to be the only coherent force in student politics. It has dominated and directed most of the affairs since December 6th when Legon Hall passed the crucial vote to oust Mr. Blay.
52. For instance, the Blay Executive appointed Mr. Ababio Okon Annan Electoral Commissioner to organise election for the formation of a new S.R.C. government on 6th December. The election could not come on on the appointed day due to the alleged activities of the “Militia.” The “Militia”, it is claimed, put up such notices as No 300 No Voting. They decided to disrupt the Face to Face event which brings contending candidates for office into open confrontation and provides an opportunity for voters to weigh the candidates and their platform in order to make up their minds. Hamilton, Ossei-Mensah and others were alleged to have issued notices encouraging students to boycott the “Face to Face event”. Failing in this, the Militia turned up equipped with bugles and other noise making apparatus to create confusion. They mounted the stage. President Blay, having been informed of possible physical violence to his person, vacated the stage. This was confirmed by several witnesses. Despite the attempt of the Militia, the Face to Face event” was successful. Following this, the “Militia” were alleged to have put up notices calling on students not to cast their votes. They allegedly supported this “no vote” call with other activities. The ballot papers for Sarbah Hell disappeared. The “Militia went to Volta Hall, threatened Porters-on-duty with knives and removed ballot papers from student pigeon holes. This was confirmed by the Senior Tutor of Volta Hall and the President of Volta Hall J.C.R. They were also alleged to have threatened Porters of Legon Hall not to issue the ballot papers. It was alleged that “Kastro” and “Karl Marx” were seen tearing up ballot papers which they had removed from pigeon holes in the Sarbah Annex. 
53. The Elections were held on December 7. Fearing that the ballot boxes would be seized by the “Militia, the Electoral Commissioner obtained the permission of the candidates to count the votes in his room. While counting was proceeding Hamilton and Yirenkyi banged on Annan’s room calling him to come down to the S.R.C’s office. Sensing that trouble was likely to develop, Mr. Blay instructed lir. Annan to send the ballot boxes to the office of President of Akuafo Hall J.C.R. and continue the count there. A “Mr. Barry White” acted as “body guard” while the count was taken. 
54. Mr. Oduro Kwarteng, President, Mr. K. Haizel and Miss Jeanette Chinebuah (who were returned unopposed) Secretary and Treasurer respectively were to form the new S.R.C. Executive. Subsequently, the Interim S.R.C. annulled the Elections and ordered fresh elections for Friday, 10th December. 
55. In view of the allegations in paragraph 52 above, there appears to be a direct relationship between the coming into existence of the Student Militia”, the removal of the Blay government and the disturbances... be

 (a) doing so in his own personal interest (b) at his own risk (c) showing open defiance and contempt for the student government by his act which  will be viewed as dangerous collaboration with the University authorities.

We have not been able to identify the source of this competence either in the University of Ghana Act or in the Statutes. But we are aware that over the years the S.R.C. has tended to exaggerate its competence. We recall a recent incident where the Blay Administration wrote to a student in Volta not to undertake a punishment which had been imposed by the Tutorial Board. On that occasion as the present, it was difficult to understand the S.R.C’s understanding of its functions But regrettable as the behaviour of the Interim S.R.C. is, it happens to follow a pattern which has evolved over the years. Our recommendation is that the student body need to be educated about the functions and responsibilities of the S.R.C. Over issues such as the level of feeding allowance, it may be convenient for the administration to deal with the collective view of students as expressed through the student representation on the Residence Board. But the University does not need to consult the S.R.C. over what to do with a student who has failed his examination, for instance, or one who has assaulted someone. There are laid down regulations for these matters and the University can only apply them. The Registrar’s letter addressed to those students who initially refused to appear before the Investigating Committee is pertinent and we quote it in part for general enlightenment: 

…students are admitted to the University as individuals and the University proposes to deal with them as individuals. Any student refusing to answer the call of a legitimate University body is personally answerable. (Appendix X)

86. The Student Militia – We have heard enough of the operations of this new group to be alarmed. We had hoped that the members would be willing to educate us of their aims and objectives. But both Mr. Yirenkyi and Mr. Ossei-Mensah whom we invited to assist our discussion failed to respond. We have already made recommendations” in respect of lir. Yirenkyi for his involvement in the demonstration. We have made a recommendation also in respect of Mr. Ossei-Mensah for his refusal to appear before our Committee. Of the group itself all we can for the moment is that its present activities does not make for good order in the University.

Read the 1973 committee here
Read  the 1968 committee report here
Read  the 1971 University Council statement here