"Appear alone" before Investigative Committee- University of Ghana tells some student plaintiffs

 

"Appear alone" before Investigative Committee- University of Ghana tells some student plaintiffs 

The University of Ghana, on 7th February 2023 has invited some continuing students from Commonwealth Hall to appear before an investigative committee over the alleged clash between Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah Halls. Some of these students are the plaintiffs in the ongoing legal battle between continuing students of Commonwealth Hall and the University Management.

The invitation, which was sent via email and signed by the Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Kwantsua Agyei-Mensah, revealed that that the students should appear alone before the investigative committee on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.  In effect, these students, who have been displaced and are currently without accommodation on the campus of the University have been given notice of 24 hours to appear before the said committee.  

The issue has sparked  several concerns about why management of the University specifically inviting some continuing students to appear alone before an investigative committee.   What has happened to the constitutional rights of persons to appear before any committee of inquiry or investigations with a lawyer of their choice?  Even the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) grants permission to suspects to attend investigative hearings with their lawyers, how much more the nation's premier University which prides itself with the oldest Law Faculty in the country, can afford to gloss over this basic constitutional right of helpless students?

Sources close to the University indicated that following the Court's Dismissal of the University of Ghana application to strike out the injunction secured by the continuing  students of Commonwealth Hall on 7th February 2023, and contempt actions cited  against key members of the Management of the University, the principal officers are forced to commence the purported investigations over the alleged clash between students of Commonwealth Hall and Mensah Sarbah, which occurred on 5th and 6th August 2022.  

Many have raised concerns about the ineptitude and gross incompetence shown so far by some of these Management  members of the University of Ghana in handling some of these sensitive issues which has generated a lot of public interest and attention.  It would be recalled that on 15th August 2022, the Hall Master and Senior Tutor were removed from office on the pretext that the University Council does not have confidence in them to assist in investigations into the alleged clashes.  Meanwhile, the said publication alleged that they should step aside for a full scale investigation. Subsequently, JCR Executives on 8th January 2023 were all suspended. Others have criticized the premature decisions without any conclusive investigation. 

The University of Ghana filed a suit challenging the injunction as well as the jurisdiction of the courts. Principal officers of the University including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gordon Awandere, the Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah among others have been cited for contempt of court.  

Of serious concern to curious minds is whether the members of current management of the University actually have what it takes to effectively manage the country's ivory tower, which prides itself as the premier university, the nation's hope and glory?  Are these developments any evidence of hope and glory?