KNUST riot and crisis explained
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) was shut down, after a peaceful protest against student brutality, which later turned violent. This happened last month. Properties belonging to the University were damaged. Here is what you need to know about the KNUST riot.
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KNUST Ghana
Some ten (10) students and one alumnus of the University Hall, Katanga who had participated in the usual weekly vigil (commonly known as morale) of the hall were allegedly brutalised when they were arrested by the University’s internal security men and then later handed over to the police at the KNUST Police Station, where they were detained.
The arrest came after the KNUST management served notice that it had suspended the organisation of vigils (morales) in the school.
The management said the suspension of vigils were as a result of “several negative issues encountered recently with respect to morale in the hall.”
The arrests miffed some parents and guardians who accused the authorities of intimidation.
On Monday, 22 October 2018, the students, led by the SRC, marched against what they said was an unfair treatment by the University authorities and unwarranted assault on their colleagues by some security officers who were supposed to be protecting them.
The peaceful demonstration turned violent, resulting in the destruction of school property. The students burnt car tyres, destroyed windows and doors of some buildings and blocked some roads on campus to prevent cars from moving.
Some security personnel who were deployed to restore peace allegedly assaulted the students at the scene.
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KNUST campus
The KNUST campus became empty after the riot because it was been shut down indefinitely. This was done after a meeting between the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the University authorities.
KNUST halls
It is the belief of some that the riots came as a result of mounting tension among some KNUST male students who were against the University's policies to convert all-male halls into mixed halls. These are the various KNUST halls with their background.
Independence hall
Independence Hall was officially opened to mark Ghana's independence on 6th March 1957. This was done in February 1959. It is the first permanent hall of residence and it houses male and female students. Members of the hall are known as "Spartans". The hall has 294 rooms with 198 rooms in the main hall and 96 rooms in the annex.
The hall boasts of an internet café, Games room, a gym for the health conscious, a church, a salon, a mini mart and a dining hall.
Africa hall
51 years ago, Africa hall was occupied by students on the 14th of October, 1967. The hall is a mixed hall. Members of the Hall are known as "Domites". Majority of the female senior members are assigned to Africa as "Fellows". "Dome" has 192 habitable rooms. The hall owns a modern Internet Cafe, a mini basketball court, a Games room, a salon and a well-managed kitchen that serves food.
University hall
The University Hall was given the name to mark the admission of the Kumasi College of Technology into the status of a full-fledged University on 22nd August 1961. The hall has 293 rooms which consist of 198 rooms in the main hall and 95 rooms in the annex. It is popularly known as "KATANGA." It was an all-male hall until the 1st of August 2018, when it was converted to a mixed Hall. On a lawn outside the hostel is a statue of a student reading a book.
Republic hall
Republic Hall is a mixed hall of almost a thousand students, both local and international. It was named Republic to commemorate Ghana's first republic status in 1960. The Hall was officially opened in 1961 and began to admit women into the hall for the first time in 1991. It has 198 rooms in the main block and 96 in the annex block; a total of 294 rooms. You can find a basketball court, a church, a salon, a kitchen that serves food, a gift shop and a popular junior common room on the KNUST campus - the C. Tavern.
Unity hall
Unity Hall is the largest hall on campus. It originally had an accommodation capacity of 448 rooms. Presently, the hall has some 36 extra flats to its name. It was also an all-male hall until 1st of August, 2018 when it was converted into a mixed hall. It has modern facilities and it is nicknamed "The Twin Towers". Members are known as "Continentals". The most comfortable, spacious and friendly junior common room on campus is found in Unity Hall.
Queen Elizabeth II hall
The Queen Elizabeth II Hall with 294 rooms, houses a student population of about 840. Named after Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, it was officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in November 1959. The Queen, during her state visit to Ghana in 1961 visited the Hall. Members of the hall are known as "Royals". Facilities include a modern internet cafe, a communication centre, a Badminton court, a games room, a gym, a chapel, a salon, a gift shop, a shopping mall and a kitchen that serves food.
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KNUST news
Following meetings between the government, authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and other stakeholders over the recent violent protest by students, the Governing Council of the University has been dissolved.
A seven-member Interim Council will be put in place to oversee the affairs of the school according to a statement issued by the government on Thursday, October 25 2018.
The Interim council will be chaired by the Paramount Chief of Bompata Traditional Area, Nana Effa Apenteng according to the statement for the 3-month period it has been given to serve.
The new council is also expected to expedite the reopening of the university.
The members of the council are:
1. Nana Effa Appenteng
2. Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson
3. Dr. Edward Baffoe-Bonnie
4. Madam Hilda Haggar Ampadu
KNUST portal
The KNUST apps portal is a student self-service portal developed by Software Development Services, KNUST. Click here to access portal
KNUST campus in Accra
KNUST has two campuses in Accra and they are:
KNUST website
The main website for KNUST is https://www.knust.edu.gh/
KNUST contact
These are some relevant KNUST contacts that you may need.
General Information:
The Registrar
- Tel: +233 -3220- 60331
- Fax: +233-3220- 60137
- E-Mail: registrar@knust.edu.gh
Academic Matters including Admissions, Examinations and Student Affairs:
The Deputy Registrar (Academic & Student Affairs)
- Tel: +233 -3220- 60444 / +233-3220- 61831
- Fax: +233 -3220- 60137
- E-Mail: admissions@knust.edu.gh
All Correspondence to the University must be addressed to:
The Registrar
Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science & Technology
Private Mail Bag
University Post Office
KNUST - Kumasi
Ghana.
For any other contact information needed, click here.
The aftermath of the KNUST riot has left the nation in shock. Some weeks after the riot, the school is yet to reopen for academic work to resume.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
