By Standard Reporters

On the 13th January Revolution Day students from the three Universities of the country went on anti-Government demonstrations. The break-up of the news did not fit in our printing schedule. We publish below the facts as we know them.

At the University of Ghana, Legon, the students staged a demonstration on the University premises in compliance with NUGS declaration of January 13 as “Ghana’s Day of Shame.’

According to a report from a student, the students carried a coffin filled with the portraits of the Head of State through the principal streets of Legon and finally ended the procession at the University main gate. Here the coffin and placards were cremated, Meanwhile riöt policemen were seen gathering on the opposite side of the students across the main gate, after all the access roads had been blocked.

KIDNAP

In the ensuing skirmish triggered by the arrival of a military truck, the police immediately arrested and beat up the students Thereupon, some of the students rushed to “kidnap” a policeman on guard at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Legon.

The Students say they kidnapped the policeman as a guarantee for the release of the arrested comrades. This move provided a “justification” for the police to invade the campus between 11 am. to 12 hoon, and between 2 pam. to 5.30p.m.

Police threw tear gas and smoke grenades on students and searched all the halls for the missing policeman. Some of the female students who infuriated the police by singing “kpoti o, kpoti o” were stripped off naked.

The kidnapped policeman was found at last without his uniform and rifle. This led to further search until later on when the rifle was finally found. Several students, lecturers and policemen were injured. Among the brutally beaten students was Mr. J.P. Owusu-Ansah, former editor of the Standard, who is now studying journalism at the University of Ghana, Legon.

KUMASI

In Kumasi, the Students of the University of Science and Technology blocked the main Accra-Kumasi road and searched through cars and lorries for personnel, policemen and Union Government supporters. They stopped the Ghanaian Times lorry carrying newspapers to Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and and the Northern Regions. They tore several copies of the newspapers. The Daily Graphic vehicle was, however, escorted by the police. 

Early the following morning, the students had had another demonstration before the arrival of the police.

Similar incident occurred at the University of Cape Coast. From the Advanced Teacher Training College in Winneba, another report says several students and policemen were injured in a 30-minute fight on January, 15.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Meanwhile the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana sent notice to announce that normal academic work of the University should resume in full on Monday, January 23. The notice added “The University Council to wishes to express its sympathy all those might have been placed in any inconvenience since January 13, 1978 and would like to assure the University that it would continue to do everything in its power to ensure that the programme of work of the University the rest of the session would not be interfered with in any way.” (This notice was dated on the January 19.)

However, the office of the S.R.C., University of Ghana has sent a protest note to the Pro Vice-Chancellor that in absence of any unconditional guarantee from the Government that there will be no re-occurence of that “brutish assault and degradation to humanity and the unwarranted threat of violence on the campus, it must be reiterated that the students of this University are not disposed to RESUME LECTURES.

UNTIL AND UNLESS there is a perpetual injunction to restrain the Forces from repeating the unprovoked attack and the requisite compensation paid to all aggrieved victims of that crude siege.” (Dated 20th January).

HIGH SPIRIT

(Referring to the demonstrations which he describes as acts of indiscipline, the Head of State and Chairman of the S.M.C. has declared: “The more they bury us, the higher in spirit we go and the more the victory which will make the destiny of Ghana a Paradise and a Mecca for nations.)

POLICE VERSION

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Greater Accra Region, Mr. Omane, has given an account of what happened at the campus of the University of Ghana, Legon. He said the police had information that the students were rioting for no apparent reason other than an ill-conceived motive. Mr. Omane said at first the police thought it was a normal student agitation but later on they realised that the students’ behaviour was getting out of hand. Innocent people including motorists plying the Accra-Dodowa road were molested by the students. Mr. Omane said this. 

The situation, according to Mr. Omane, caused the police to move into action to maintain law and order. All of a sudden the students rushed to Legon Police Station and attacked the constables on duty there. Soon after this, three powerful bomb explosions were heard at the campus of the University. Mr. Omane said these were in fact, the work of the students. And at this stage, the police decided to contain the situation by driving away the students from the police station back to the campus. Mr. Omane said when order seemed to have been restored, information reached the police that a constable on guard duties at the bank at Legon had been murdered. Investigations later proved that the constable had been kidnapped. This led to lengthy discussions between the police and the University authorities. Eventually the constable was. rescued but his physical condition gave cause for concern. He was therefore rushed to the police hospital for treatment. But the constable’s rifle, five rounds of ammunition, a cap, belt, boots and a jacket could not be found. 

This again led to further discussions, and 24 hours after the rescue operation, Mr. Omane said the police cap, boots and parts of a torn jacket were handed to the police. Mr. Omane made it clear to the authorities that since the constable’s rifle, five rounds of ammunition and belt had not been recovered, they constitute a danger to public peace and the police will continue to search the campus and its precincts until they are found.

FROM CAPE COAST

On the eve of January 12. 1978, the Cape Coast branch of the University Students Representative Council approached the authorities of the Cape Coast University for permission to hold a demonstration at the campus on January 13, 1978. The University authorities refused the students permission on the ground that the university regulations require the students give 48 hours notice iff respect of demonstrations of that nature. Not satisfied with the ruling of the university authorities, the students informed the Vice-Chancellor that they would demonstrate whether or not they were granted permission.

At 0900 hours on 13/1/78, about forty students mainly from two halls embarked on a demonstration at the university campus. The handful of demonstrators sang war songs and carried placards. They all converged at the Western Gate and attempted to go to town, but at the approach of the Police, they retreated to the campus.

FROM KUMASI

January 13. On Friday, 1978, at about 0400 hours, a group of students from the University of Science and Technology, left the campus and converged on the main Kumasi/Ejisu road just opposite the university at Eyigya junction and hurled missiles at vehicles and other road users for no apparent reason. Passengers and occupants of some vehicles were manhandled and the vehicles damaged were:-

i. Boarder Guard truck

ii. Information Service Van

iii. New Times Corporation vehicle carrying the day’s news papers;

iv. Police Nissan Patrol Jeep.

v. Mercedes Benz private car belonging to a Senior Police Officer.

Police platoons were rushed to the scene and on arrival the students body numbering well over one thousand retreated to the campus.

Other Student Protests
Read about the 1968 UG students demonstrations here
Read about the 1968 demonstrations at KNUST here
Read about  the 1967 demonstrations at KNUST here
1976 student disturbance can be found here
1977 Notice of Boycott of Lectures