Student Demonstrations In The University Of Ghana, Legon And The U.S.T, Kumasi
July 1, 2026
Transcript
National Council For Higher Education
1968
November 1, 1968
Commissioner:
STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON AND THE U.S.T., KUMASI
You no doubt got news of the outbreak of student demonstrations in Legon early last week before your departure for Paris. The demonstrations reached their climax on Tuesday, the 22nd when platoons of 7 policemen apparently misconstruing their mission to the University campus are reported to have fallen on the students and beaten them up and arrested a number of them for detention in Accra. In the absence of the Vice-Chancellor in Kampala at the time of the incidents, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, with the able assistance of the Registrar and his staff, worked very hard and were able, by Wednesday, to bring the situation completely under control. Following a meeting of the Students Representative Council and the Executive Committee of the Academic Board, a modus vivendi was reached whereby the students agreed to submit their grievances to a special Committee for consideration and then resume normal academic life. The Vice-Chancellor returned to Ghana by last weekend. I attach, for your information, two press releases issued by the office of the Registrar on the incidence. Following further demonstrations by the students mainly over the question whether or not the suspended students should reside on the university campus during the sittings of the Special Committee of Investigation or outside the campus, the University authorities decided to close down the university by noon on Wednesday, 30th October.
- You will note that the Legon incident had its repercussions on U.S.T., Kumasi where a one-day boycott of lectures was staged. To their immense credit, however, the Kumasi students chose to go about the matter in a more mature way by sending a delegation to Legon to check on the situation and report back.. A special report prepared by the Vice-Chancellor at my request will be submitted to you as soon as it comes in. As far as Kumasi was concerned, therefore, the Legon demonstration was only of passing interest.
- The U. C. C. C. has so far not shown any interest in the incidents at Legon.
AG: PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
(G.B. BOAHENE)
2./1/11/68.
