Concerned students of University Hall (Katanga) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has revealed that it will be saddened if a clash that transpired between them and some members of Unity Hall (Continental), is turned into a “witch-hunt”.
According to the University Hall, it acted in self-defense after some members of Unity Hall (Continental) attacked them during their ‘Zulu procession’.
Contained in a statement, Katangees drew the attention of the school and the entire Ghanaian populace to the fact that whatever happened, “no matter the intensity, was an attempt to defend” themselves from “these uncouth people who do not care about values” or tradition.
The University Hall indicated that the report of the security personnel on duty on the day of the incident would be enough to clear all doubts.
“We would be saddened if this situation is turned into a witch-hunt as in previous events. Denying this truth means you deny us of a right to defend ourselves which is equal to oppression. Once again we apologise for being a part of the disturbance of public peace but would not coil in the face of any form of oppression that may arise from this incident”.
Concerned Katangees
The concerned Katangees requested security personnel who escorted them in the procession to speak truth to events that sparked the clash. It highlighted that the procession on the principal streets of the university was conducted with consent from security personnel, including the military and police with approved routes to ply.
“They should remember to speak truth about this matter which includes the fact that a certain group of hooligans who reported being members of the Unity Hall attacked us while we were embarking on a peaceful procession which was intended to show a beautiful tradition which depicts the strength and agility of a great African tribe.”
Concerned Katangees
The clash between the two traditional halls of the university has since left 12 persons injured and nine vehicles damaged. It is believed attempts of students of Unity Hall to restrain colleagues of University Hall from using their frontage in the procession resulted in the disturbance.
KNUST suspends all public gathering on campus
Prior to this, management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has directed the suspension of all public gatherings on campus. It includes the ongoing University Hall Week celebration and the upcoming Students Representative Council (SRC) Week.
This follows Thursday, August 18, 2022, clashes between residents of the Unity Hall and the Unversity Hall. The announcement comes amid heavy police presence on campus after the disturbance which left 12 people injured and three vehicles damaged.
The latest development was a conclusion reached by the University’s Executive Committee as part of a measure to aid investigations into the violence. In a press statement, the KNUST Registrar, Andrews Kwasi Boateng, explained that any event that will require the massing up of students is banned until further notice.
Additionally, security checks of persons and vehicles entering and exiting the campus may be carried out at random. KNUST’s transport department has also been directed to assess all vehicles damaged by the violence and “make appropriate recommendations for repairs”.
Meanwhile, the police has revealed that it is in the process of securing CCTV footage of the clashes and will peruse it accordingly to bring the perpetrators to book.
