Court stops suspension of UCC students

The Cape Coast High Court has granted an interim injunction filed by lawyer of the suspended students at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

The court presided by Justice William Boampong said the students must be allowed to take part in the ongoing second semester exams.

The University of Cape Coast said it has found 22 students culpable over clashes that ensued in the university during a hall celebration by the Ogua Hall residents – leading to the stabbing of three students in March.

They were thus suspended to serve an academic ban ranging from a period of two to four semesters. They were made up of 17 males and five females with nine in their final years, another nine in third year while two are in their second and first years respectively.

However, Management of the University has justified its decision for suspending 22 students.

In a statement signed by its acting Director, Maj. Kofi Baah-Bentwum (Rtd), he said management of the school took the decision because the affected students were negligent in their duties.

Background

At least, three students were stabbed at UCC in March 2017 when a clash erupted between some enraged students of the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, who had been invited to the celebration, and UCC students.

A UCC student, Emmanuel Quarshie, was paralysed after he was stabbed several times in the course of the clashes while entering his hall from night studies.

The notice of rustication sighted by Pulse.com.gh noted: "The following students have with effect from the second semester of the 2016/2017 academic year been rusticated from the University for the periods indicated against their names for roles played in the Disturbances at the Oguaa Hall on Friday, 17th March 2017, during the 2017 ATLANTIC HALL WEEK celebrations."