The National Security Council has, for the second time in three months, demolished a security post being constructed on the university campus.
National Security operatives last Monday demolished the reconstructed security post at the Okponglo entrance of the university in similar circumstances under which they undertook the first demolition exercise last February.
On both occasions, the demolition exercises were undertaken at dawn and were triggered by alleged defiance of National Security orders by the authorities of the university not to construct the structures.
The February demotion exercise was executed under the command of Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (retd) shortly before he was relieved of his job, while the second demolition exercise was executed under the leadership of Mr Yaw Donkor shortly after his appointment as National Security Co-ordinator.
Visit to campus
When the Daily Graphic visited the Legon campus yesterday, the handiwork of the National Security operatives was evident in the debris of cement blocks scattered on the construction site of the structure described by the university authorities as a security checkpoint.
The atmosphere on campus was quiet.
The Director of Public Affairs of the university, Mrs Stella Amoah, could not be reached for comment.
She was said to be attending a meeting.
Background of tollbooth
The university authorities had secured a loan of GH¢1.3 million to rehabilitate roads on campus, many of which had deteriorated after they were used as thoroughfare during the construction of the N1 Highway.
The authorities had, therefore, sought to use the collection of road tolls as a means of recouping and paying back the loan, and also help in the maintenance of the new roads.
But their attempt to implement the toll collection policy by constructing tollbooths on campus was subdued by the National Security, whose operatives on February 18, 2014, demolished one of the tollbooths under construction at the Okponglo entrance.
The National Security Coordinator at the time, Lt Col Gbevlo-Lartey, explained that the demolition exercise was carried out “for the larger interest of the public”.
The university authorities, however, condemned the action by the National Security, describing it as ultra vires.
Latest demolition
When everyone thought the impasse was being resolved, the National Security struck again with the demolition of the tollbooth under reconstruction.
The demolition comes after a recent meeting between officials of the National Security and authorities of the university in which the National Security was reported to have cautioned the latter to stop the reconstruction of the university authorities’ tollbooth demolished last February.
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