Students of the Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana, known as 'Vandals' were on Saturday cautioned by its alumni to desist from fomenting trouble which sought to portray the Hall as occupied by hooligans and trouble makers.

Speaking at the 50th anniversary grand durbar of the Hall, Mr. Kwesi Essel-Koomson, National President of the Old Vandals Association said the Association was very much disturbed by the bad image that some residents of the Hall had carved for it due to some anti-social activities they engaged in.

He said the Alumni Association was working hand-in-hand with the students' leadership and the hall administration to ensure that discipline was ensured in the hall.

"We the old vandals shall never do anything to jeopardize your future. All that we are asking of you is to pursue a more positive students activism", he said.

Mr Essel-Koomson said the Hall, since its inception 50 years ago, had produced distinguished Ghanaians who had contributed immensely to the development of the nation.

On alumni responsibilities to the Hall, Mr Essel-Koomson said the Association had established the first computer laboratory for the Hall; constructed an underground reservoir, sponsored the rehabilitation of the fountains and established endowment fund for the students.

He said the old Vandals were also to help the under-privileged in society through the contribution of members.

Giving an account on the state of the Hall, Professor Harry Akussah, Hall Master said currently, 4,383 students occupied the Hall with only 1,500 of them officially registered with the rest being "perchers."

He said the large number of students coupled with the behaviour of some wrongdoers being shielded was making the maintenance of discipline elusive.

Her Ladyship, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, Chief Justice, who was a Guest Speaker cautioned the students to desist from using fraudulent results to gain admission into the University since it was against the rules and the regulations of the University and the nation as a whole.

He appealed to the students to use laid down procedures such as negotiations, mediation and dialogue to address their grievances rather than threats.

Professor Clifford Nii Boye Tagoe, Vice Chancellor who is also a Vandal, extolled the hall by saying that it was the greatest and the finest in the country and that its inmates should live up to expectations.

"Three out of the seven Vice Chancellors of the University were all Vandals when they were on this campus", he added.

He praised the hall for the pivotal roles that it had played in championing students' causes in the University.

In a message read on his behalf by Alhaji Abubakar Siddique Boniface, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, the President, John Agyekum Kufuor, also praised the Hall for producing great people for the country and donated GH¢2,000 (¢20 million) for the upkeep of the Hall.

Awards were presented to people who had contributed towards the growth of the Hall.

The Old Vandals Association unveiled a plaque and presented an Urvan bus valued at GH¢26,800 (¢268 million) to the Hall in commemoration of the 50th anniversary.


Source: GNA