Central Cafeteria 
PO Box 97, 
Legon 
23rd May, 1972.

Dear Sir, 

PONDING OF THE CAFETERIA MANAGER 

As you have certainly heard, there was a ponding action organised against me, EM. Okere, the Cafeteria Manager at Lunch time on Friday 19th May, 1972.

My investigation confirmed that Mr. S.K. Sarpong, a student in Legon Hall Annex B 204b and the Hall’s Representative on the Menu Planning Committee engineered the action. 

About 9.30 a.m. on the name Friday Mr. Sarpong furiously walked into my office and demanded to know why they should be given fresh oranges twice and fresh man goes once as desserts on the preceding Thursday. He added that his and other students’ anger was even more aroused by the Domestic Bursar’s answer to them when she was approached for explanation. According to him, and the attached Domestic Bursar’s report partially confirms, though she was unable to deny the allegations in Mr. Sarpong’s presence when I called her for information, Mrs. R. Acquaah told them that she was working under instructions from the Manager, Mr. Okere and moreover she did not know when and where the oranges and mangoes were bought; if they wanted more information, they should approach the Manager. Mr. Sarpong went on to say that he saw no reason why I, Obere, should substitute cheap oranges and mangoes for their customary desserts like custard arean, ice cream and pineapple pieces. He reminded me that the First Year Students who are paying for themselves felt they are not getting fair treatment. 

All the exhaustive efforts to explain to Mr. Sarpong the difficulties in obtaining both imported and local food items at this time of the year and the nutritional values of fresh fruits, irrespective of their prices, landed on deaf ears. These fruits, bought from University Research Station, Kade, are as good as any other on the market if not better and I do not see anything wrong with serving them as desserts twice a day. They are not cheap in the first place and could even be considered as a luxury taking into account the students pay for meals per day. Before leaving my office, Mr. Sarpong threatened that if I was not able to give him a reasonable explanation, I should be prepared to face the consequences. 

At about 12.30 p.. and as Mr. Sarpong had earlier threatened, a group of First Year Students who had then finished examinations in the Great Hall chanted through to the Central Cafeteria and carried me off the Mensah Sarbah Hall and threw me into a dirty and unhygienic pond. As I tried to walk out after the first ponding, there came another terrific push which landed me head-on into the pond. 

Up to the time of writing this report, it has not been possible for the Medical Officer to determine what the after-effects would be. You will be notified should there be any development. During the pending process however, some students resorted to yet more criminal acts as a result of which the following personal effects got either lost, stolen or damaged:

1 Only now shirt 17.75 1 
Trousers 30.00 
1 Pair underwear 7.70 
1 Stockings 2.00 
1 Tissot Automatic PR516 Wrist Watch 157.00 
1 Parker pen 21.50 
Cash in shirt pocket 39.30 
= 275.25 

Meanwhile I should like the University Authority to consider as a matter of urgency, the possibility of indemnifying me for the above articles. 

This unsavoury act of irresponsibility and hooliganism is most unwanted in such a community as this and must be condemned in the strongest tone. I am therefore referring this matter to you for any disciplinary action you may deem most appropriate. But it may perhaps be necessary for me to emphasise at this stage that I would like a quick action on this matter–action compatible to the crime and seen to have been taken. 

Yours faithfully, 
Okere 
CAFETERIA MANAGER 

The Registrar, 
University of Ghana,
 Legon.

C.C:                                                            
The Vice-Chancellor. 
The Chairman, M.C.C.C. 
 The Secretary, M.C.C.C.