Court restrains UCC from rusticating 18 students

The case between the rusticated students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the university has taken a legal twist.

The students yesterday secured an interim injunction from the Cape Coast High Court to restrain the university  from rusticating 18 of them.

The order, signed by Francis Gedzeah, a Registrar of the Cape Coast High Court, further restrained the UCC from interfering in anyway whatsoever with the academic work of the students.

The order dated May 23, 2017 restrained the university, its agents, workmen or employees from carrying out their purported decision to rusticate the plaintiffs.

Eighteen out of the 22 students filed an exparte motion for an interim injunction to restrain the UCC, its agents, workmen or employees from carrying out their purported decision to rusticate them and prevent them from writing their second semester examination or interfere in anyway, whatsoever, with their academic work.

The plaintiffs include Benjamin Sarfo, Seth Osei Amoah, Fred Appiah, Lawrence Adu, Bada Hamoulton Michael, Godfred Nana Ogoe, Mabel Anokwa, Rose Attah, Patrick Owusu and Ruby Nuto Dela.

The rest are Francisca Nyamekye, Mary Adu, Rapheal Teng Anhenkorah, Agyei Darko Teddy, Richmond Owusu Sekyere, Donkor Peter Amoah, Emonch A. Barte Plange Tawiah and Ferdinand Odame Kusi. 

 Part of the order read: ‘’It is furthermore ordered that the defendant is restrained from interfering in anyway whatsoever with the academic work of the plaintiffs.’’
“It is hereby again ordered that this order would last for three days, the day of the grant of this application inclusive.’’


Background

Twenty-two students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) were rusticated for their inability to ensure peaceful celebration of their hall week at the university.

 The victims, most of whom were members of the executive of the Atlantic Hall of the university, are to stay at home for two to four semesters for their various roles in the violence that resulted in the destruction of the university’s property and injury to some students.

According to the Public Relations Director of the university, Major Kofi Baah Bentum (retd), the rusticated students had pledged in a memorandum to ensure that their hall week celebration would be incident-free.

The violence

In March this year, 10 people were left injured as a result of a clash between students of the UCC and some students of the University of Ghana (UG) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The riots are said to have begun when visiting students of the UG and the KNUST, as well as some students of the Atlantic Hall of the UCC, wanted to enter the Oguaa Hall.

The students of Oguaa Hall prevented them from entering the hall and, in the ensuing melee, the rampaging students vandalised some rooms in the hall, smashed the windscreens of the Oguaa Hall bus and those of some vehicles parked in the vicinity.

The 22 students were invited by the police for questioning and later granted bail.