Legon 
23rd March, 1978

INTRODUCTION 

We, the undersigned, were appointed as a Committee by the Executive Committee of the Academic Board on Monday, 16th January, reference:- 1978 with the following terms of 

(i) To ascertain as far as possible the nature of the events of 13th January at Legon and the background thereto. 

(ii) To identify any breaches of the law and establish procedures and instances of improper behaviour associated with the events. 

(iii) To assess injuries sustained by individuals and damage caused to public and/or private property and as far as possible to identify the parties responsible. 

(iv) To investigate any other matters related to the foregoing. 

(v) To recommend appropriate action in respect of any breaches of the law, established procedures and improper behaviour. 

(vi) To recommend action for ensuring that the University’s programme of work for the session continues. 

(vii) To submit preliminary findings to the Academic Board through the Executive Committee by Friday, 20th January, 1978. 

2. In keeping with the requirement in the last of our terms of reference, we did submit a preliminary report on Friday, 20th January, 1978. This report, however, needs mention only in so far as it represents the Committee’s compliance with its instructions, for by 20th January, 1978, we had not been able to interview a single witness. 
3. We decided, in fairness to all parties, to seek evidence from a wide range of people, including students, University employees, the Police and the general public, and accordingly we issued a general invitation to the University community for written statements, and also wrote directly to all individuals – University as well as non-University persons – who were known to have some worthwhile information to give. Appendix A to this Report is a schedule of documents received from various sources. 
4. We also interviewed witnesses. Appendix B sets out the witnesses interviewed. 
5. With the departure of students from campus following the Police incursions, the Committee found itself severely handicapped in its work, for statements from student sources were slow in coming in; indeed it was not until 9th February, 1978 that the Committee succeeded in interviewing two key student leaders. 
6. Although a few statements were received from members of the general public, most of the potential outside witnesses failed to appear before the Committee to give evidence. 
7. The Committee was also not able to interview a single policeman. Having decided that it would be desirable to obtain evidence from Police sources as well, the Committee appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to use his good offices to secure Police co-operation in this regard. Initially the Police appeared willing to Committee, and a list of 14 police witnesses was submitted to the Police Authorities. After some further exchanges of correspondence between the Vice-Chancellor and the only three of the fourteen listed police Police Authorities, the Police decided to release only three of the fourteen listed police witnesses, and to add a fourth witness who had not been listed. In the opinion of the Police, the evidence of the other eleven listed witnesses was not “necessary”. Moreover the police did not consider it advisable for their witnesses to come to the campus, and they suggested therefore that the Committee should move to the Conference Room the Police Headquarters to interview the four police witnesses.
8. The Committee found this attitude of the Police unhelpful. In its view it was for the Committee, not the Police, to determine whose evidence would be necessary. As regards the proposal that the Committee should sit at the Police Headquarters, the Committee found this suggestion unacceptable, and offered to accommodate the Police by arranging the meeting at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. The Committee’s decisions were relayed to the Police Authorities by the Vice-Chancellor. At the time of writing, there had been no response from the Police.

9. In spite of the handicaps, the Committee considers that it has obtained enough reliable evidence on which to base this Report.
10. While our first term of reference required us to give an account of events of the 13th January, 1978, and their background, in accordance with the fourth term of reference events subsequent to the 13th were also investigated by the Committee. We have, therefore, given a record of events up to 18th January, 1978.
11. The Committee has been much concerned about the delay in producing its final Report, but hopes that with the difficulties narrated, and the fact that the members had other regular duties to perform, the Executive Committee will understand the delay. It may, perhaps be noted here that realising that the most pressing issue was what action the University should take in its present circumstance – an issue which was our sixth term of reference – the Committee completed this part of its Report and submitted it to the Vice-Chancellor on 7th March, 1978 for the consideration of the Executive Committee.
12. We would like to place on record our gratitude to all those who assisted us by writing statements and attending personally to give evidence.
13. We have pleasure in submitting our report and hope that the University will find it useful.

Signed.
Prof. K.A. Dickson, Convener
Prof. K. Wiredu, Member
Prof. G.C. Clerk, Member
Mrs. M. Greenstreet, Member
Dr. S.K. Date-Bah, Member
Mr. E.O. Dodoo, Member/Secretary

23rd March, 1978.
The Chairman,
Executive Committee of the Academic Board,
Vice-Chancellor’s Office,
Legon

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University Of Ghana Report On The Committee Of Enquiry Into The Disturbances Of 13th January, 1978:

Chapter 1

• Section 1: An Account Of The Events
• Section 2: Monitoring Of Student Activities
• Section 3: Recommendations