The University of Ghana’s Chapter of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) has condemned in no uncertain terms the clash between Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah hall students following last Friday’s SRC elections.

According to the Association, “As an academic community, we have zero tolerance for all acts of lawlessness and therefore condemn in no uncertain terms the needless clash between students of the two halls. The learning environment must be one of civility, peace, and cordiality.”

UG-UTAG expressed their utmost disappointment at the students’ failure to address their misgivings about the Student Representative Council’s (SRC) Presidential Run-off and instead resorted to hooliganism and vandalism.

“We, therefore, urge all students to resort to laid down rules in addressing all grievances rather than taking the law into their own hands and engaging in acts of lawlessness in settling scores.

The statement released by the UG-UTAG commended the Security Unit for acting swiftly in handling the situation and calling for the needed reinforcement to bring the problem under control.

“While cautioning students to desist from all acts of lawlessness, we call on our Security Unit and all relevant authorities in charge of student affairs in the University to be proactive in gathering the needed intelligence, to quell such acts of lawlessness before they occur,” the statement read.

The group further called on the Dean of Students and the Management of the University of Ghana to “probe the clash and take punitive disciplinary action against all ring leaders and those found culpable of such acts of lawlessness.”

Below is the full statement

1. Our attention has been drawn to the clash between students of Commonwealth Hall and Mensah Sarbah Hall of the University of Ghana on Friday 29th October 2021, at the close of polls of the Student Representative Council (SRC) Presidential Run-off. Evidence at the scene shows the throwing of stones, broken bottles and the vandalization of vehicles around the precincts of the SRC Union Building.

2. As an academic community, we have zero tolerance for all acts of lawlessness and therefore condemn in no uncertain terms the needless clash between students of the two halls. The learning environment must be one of civility, peace and cordiality.
3. We therefore urge all students to resort to laid down rules in addressing all grievances rather than taking the law into their own hands and engaging in acts of lawlessness in settling scores.
4. We commend the Security Unit of the University for acting swiftly in handling the situation and calling for the needed reinforcement to bring the situation under control.
5. While cautioning students to desist from all acts of lawlessness, we call on our Security Unit and all relevant authorities in charge of student affairs in the University to be proactive in gathering the needed intelligence, to quell such acts of lawlessness before they occur.
6. Finally, we call on the Dean of Students and the University Management to probe the clash and take punitive disciplinary action against all ring leaders and those found culpable of such acts of lawlessness