Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has abolished all Junior Common Room (JCR) systems of hall management by students.
Also, celebrations of all Hall weeks and Students Representative Council (SRC) coupled with morale sessions have been suspended indefinitely.
The decision forms part of measures to prevent future occurrences of a bloody clash between students on campuses following Conti Hall and Unity Hall.
The incident led to the destruction of vehicles and injuring of some students.
A statement from the institution signed by the Registrar/Secretary to Council of KNUST, Mr. A.K. Boateng, said the Council of the University decided at an emergency meeting held on Friday, 26th August 2022.
“With effect from the 2023/2024 Academic Year, the Junior Common Room (JCR) System of Hall Management by students, is abolished. This means, there would be no Students’ elections for hall executives.
“The existing governance structure comprising Hall Councils, Hall Masters, and Senior Tutors, would continue to operate in the management of the affairs of the Halls. In addition, Hall Fellows will be appointed and assigned to floors/blocks of the Halls to exercise direct supervision over matters affecting students.
“In the meantime, Hall Week and SRC Week Celebrations have been suspended indefinitely,” it said.
The Council’s decision means that students will no longer be elected as executives to manage hall activities from the 2023/2024 academic year.
The KNUST Council warned that any student who participates in the organisation of ‘morale’ and or ‘procession’ shall face dismissal.
“Any student/students who is/are caught to be harbouring dismissed, rusticated, withdrawn student(s) and/alumnus/alumna in his/her room in any of the Halls of Residence on Campus, shall be sanctioned, appropriately.
“Students who indulge in any act which will warrant dismissal will have their names and pictures widely published in the National Dailies and on the University Website.”
The KNUST Council used the opportunity and thanked members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council and security agencies for their support in averting the situation.
“We express our profound gratitude to the Ashanti Regional Minister, the Inspector-General of Police, the Regional Police Commander, and the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, for the professional role they played in helping to restore calm and tranquillity on the University campus,” the statement acknowledged.
However, as part of the ongoing investigation carried out three persons including an old student are currently in police custody, while an arrest warrant has been issued for 61 others.
