With effect from the 2010/2011 academic year, the Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana will no longer be a single-sex hall for male students of the university. The hall, which has over the past 54 years served as an all-male hall, will from September 2010, be turned into a mixed hall for graduate students of the university. The decision was taken by the Executive Committee of the University of Ghana, following a series of rowdy conducts by residents of the hall, with particular reference to a recent unpleasant happening during the university’s last congregation in March this year. It would be recalled that during the said congregation, some students of the Commonwealth Hall, popularly called Vandal city, allegedly heckled former UN boss and Chancellor of the university, Kofi Annan. The students heckled the former UN Secretary General and chanted songs in his face. He reportedly suffered the unpleasant experience along with invited guests and parents of graduands. Authorities say the students’ behaviour tarnished the image of the university and have subsequently condemned the unruly behaviour. The Hall Council and the old Vandals Association of the Commonwealth Hall have also condemned the act and apologised to Mr. Annan. The Executive Committee of the University, after meeting to discuss the issue, found it necessary to metamorphose the hall into a mixed hall for graduate students, as a means of forestalling any further embarrassing occurrences. Confirming the news to Citifmonline.com, the senior tutor of the hall, Dr. Edzada, said the entire student body of the university has been accordingly informed about the decision. He however disclosed that the Commonwealth Hall Council is yet to receive any formal information from the Executive Committee of the university, saying “the whole University community has been informed that the hall will be turned into a graduate hall from next academic year, for male and female...The hall has not written to us directly and at the level of the hall council, we have written to condemn the action of the students and to apologise to the Chancellor of the university and also to the Vice Chancellor.” He added that it is unclear what will happen to the undergraduate students in the hall when the decision is implemented next year. According to Dr Edzada, the hall council has not yet decided on what action to take on the issue. He described the decision as a big blow, saying “It’s a big blow to us. We wish that’s not the case but a decision has been taken at the highest level of the university, and we are just waiting to see how the implementation will go”. Source: Daily Guide