Two National Democratic Congress (NDC) members of Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak, Builsa South and Rockson-Nelson Defeamekpor have in a joint press statement called on the University of Ghana to respect the ruling of the court and reinstate all continuing of the commonwealth hall.
The aggrieved students secured a restraining order from an Accra High court against the University authorities from implementing the new residential policy decision affecting all continuing students of Commonwealth Hall.
“The status quo of the residential status of all continuing students of Commonwealth Hall, University of Ghana, should be maintained as it used to be before the 26th October, 2022 decision was taken, said the court order.
Per the order, “the Defendant herein is hereby restrained either by itself or its officers, assigns, privies, agents, workmen or anybody working under the Defendant’s instructions from implementing the decision of the Defendant’s Residence Board meeting held on 26th October, 2022,”
The order secured from the high court, Commercial Division, in Accra is to last until the final determination of the case.
However, the school has not obeyed the order of the court.
Following this, the two MPs have called on the school to obey the court order and reinstate the students.
The statement said “Mr. Speaker, this order was an express statement that the status quo, prior to the decision made by the Respondent’s Residence Board on 26th October, 2022, was to be maintained until the substantive matter was determined.
Mr Speaker, to date, this order has been flagrantly disregarded as though same was not granted and ordered. Since the granting of this order, the Management of the University of Ghana have refused to act in accordance with the dictates of the order. The police and other allied security personnel have been employed by the Management of the University of Ghana to frustrate the efforts being made by the students to call attention of the Management of the University of Ghana to obey the orders of the Court and to reinstate them.
It added “as an institution of higher learning, and especially as Ghana’s foremost university, one could not expect less from the University of Ghana with regards to discipline where the law so commands.
By this statement Mr. Speaker, we the alumni of Commonwealth Hall, known popularly as OLD VANDALS in this Parliament of Ghana, back calls by associations and individuals who have called on the Management of the University of Ghana to heed the decision of the Court, and to ensure that continuing students who resided in the Commonwealth Hall are reinstated to provide them the peace of mind for their academic activities pending the final determination of the case.
The continuous refusal by the Management of the University of Ghana to reinstate the affected students as ordered by the Court is unacceptable, unlawful and must not be countenanced.
Mr. Speaker, we call on you, and this august house, to join us and well-meaning Ghanaians to impress upon the University of Ghana to do the needful by respecting the laws of the land.
Most grateful Mr. Speaker.”
Read the full statement below
