Both Majority and Minority Old Commonwealth (Vandals) Members of Parliament have urged University of Ghana administrators to abide by the court’s ruling and reinstate enrolled students until the dispute is resolved.
We are requesting that the university abide by the court’s orders so that continuing students can feel at ease carrying out the academic work for which they were admitted, said Mr. Rockson-Nelson Este Dafeamekpor, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for the South Dayi Constituency.
The bust of John Mensah Sarbah, the historical person after whom the Sarbah Hall was named, was destroyed during fights between certain students from the Commonwealth and Sarbah Halls. As a result, the University of Ghana (UG) has revoked the tenancy of ongoing students from the two halls.
The University said that all enrolled students in Commonwealth Hall, an all-male residence hall, and enrolled male students in Mensah Sarbah Hall would not be returning to their residence halls or any of the regular residence halls.
The students, however, had voiced their opposition to the change, claiming that it was ill-intentioned and that it would put financial strain on them because the new halls were so pricey.
Mr. Dafeamekor informed the Parliamentary Press Corps that disobeying a court order was illegal and that the UG government had a responsibility to obey court orders because the MPs did not want the UG government to face legal action for contempt of court.
“Because there isn’t much time left, we brought up the issue today on the floor, and we believe it’s critical to involve the media.
“As UG Hall House and Old School students who were elected representatives of the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Ghana, we believe that the university authorities’ disregard for court orders is offensive, unacceptable and outright abusive of power. But for the time being, we will direct them to the middle school students, who are pending a final decision on the lawsuits currently pending in court,” he said.
In a similar incident, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, MP, Builsa South Constituency (NDC), lambasted UG officials for attempting to ruin the Commonwealth Hall’s ethos, culture, and tradition while presenting a statement on the subject on the House floor.
The university, he claimed, “was not abiding by the law.”
“As Commonwealth Hall alumni from both sides of the house, we are dissatisfied with how the University of Ghana has handled the situation,” he stated. We are unable to comprehend the university’s disregard for the law.
Dr. Apaak expressed hope that the situation might be settled peacefully but also stated that they expected the university to abide by the law in the interim.
Some authors asked the institution’s administrators to give the court orders the attention they need in order to maintain harmony between the students and the administrators of the prestigious university.
When upset by the university’s decision, our fellow residents of the hall did not protest to the streets but instead sought redress in court. The court issued interim instructions, and the university must follow those instructions, according to Mr. Defeamekpor.