Students of Tamale Technical University (TaTU) have staged a large protest against what they describe as chronic mismanagement of funds, unjustified fee increments, and worsening conditions on campus.
The demonstration, which began peacefully, later descended into chaos as students clashed with security forces, leaving several injured and sparking widespread calls for accountability.
The protest saw scores of students blocking entry points to the campus and burning lorry tyres at the administration block to express their frustration. Their anger was directed at the university management, whom they accused of neglecting student welfare while misappropriating funds meant for development.
Musa Mahamudu, Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), said the demonstration was necessary to draw attention to issues that had persisted for years.
“Our main aim for this demonstration is the issue we have with management, which has to do with pressing matters that affect students in this university.
“Let’s talk about hostels, lecture halls, campus comfort, etc. Over the years, we have been paying school fees and levies for development, which are supposed to improve this university”
Musa Mahamudu, TaTU SRC Public Relations Officer
The SRC, together with the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG), accused management of diverting internally generated funds into non-academic areas while allowing the core needs of students to remain unmet.
They argued that although students pay levies for sanitation, medical services, and examinations, these services are either dysfunctional or inadequately provided.
Petition to the Minister of Education
The students petitioned the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, urging him to intervene with urgency in their standoff with the University’s administration.
“We are compelled to bring to your urgent attention issues of systematic neglect of student welfare, alleged misapplication of funds, and the proposed increment of fees without justification”
Nurudeen Issahaku, TaTU SRC Spokesperson
It added that such practices contradict principles of equity, accountability, and quality education guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution. The petition also drew attention to deteriorating infrastructure on campus, with students insisting that their developmental levies had not translated into any tangible projects.
Beyond financial accountability, sanitary conditions at TaTU were another major grievance. Student leaders highlighted poor hygiene in hostels, broken facilities, and inadequate washrooms, with some students resorting to open defecation.
“The hygiene and sanitation -leave much to be desired,” SRC spokesperson Nurudeen Issahaku said. Protesters added that lectures were sometimes disrupted because of the stench from nearby facilities.
Students also raised concerns about certificates for two graduating batches that remain unissued by the University, leaving many unable to secure jobs or further their studies. They said such neglect undermines the credibility of the institution and jeopardises their future prospects.
In addition to their welfare demands, the SRC and GRASAG called for a full forensic audit of the university’s finances. They insisted that only an external investigation “could reveal the extent of financial mismanagement,” and restore confidence in the institution.
Students maintained that the protest was a last resort after years of ignored complaints and opaque practices by the administration. They vowed to continue their advocacy until there is transparency in the handling of university funds.
Clashes With Police
The peaceful demonstration escalated when police deployed to the campus used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Eyewitnesses said the confrontation was abrupt and left many students scrambling for safety.
“People were running in all directions,” said a student protester who narrowly avoided injury. At least four students sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Tamale Technical University Hospital. A nurse at the facility confirmed that the injured were receiving treatment and were in stable condition.
The incident has provoked anger from student unions and civil society groups, who have described the police response as excessive and unwarranted. Representatives of the Student Union questioned the police approach, asking who gave the order to fire and emphasising that this was an “avoidable tragedy.”
The violent turn of the protest has stirred debate about student welfare and the role of security forces in managing demonstrations. Critics have urged the Ghana Police Service to investigate the incident and hold accountable any officers who used disproportionate force.
As of now, the Ministry of Education has not issued an official response to the petition or the violence that followed the protest. However, with tensions still high on campus, students insist they will not relent until the government steps in to address their grievances.
The incident has become a flashpoint in Ghana’s broader struggle over accountability in public institutions, raising urgent questions about the balance between order, transparency, and the rights of students to demand fairness.
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