The Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, says he expects authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to investigate reports of harassment of some female students occupying the University and Unity halls, known as Katanga and Conti respectively.
Last week, there was a viral video of some male students harassing female students who were sent to the halls that were recently converted into mixed halls amidst protest.
Scores of male residents were seen crowding round the females in an unruly manner.
This comes after management of the university converted the all-male halls into mixed ones despite protest by the residents and alumni of the halls.
The matter ended up at the Kumasi High Court 2, after the alumni sought an injunction to restrain the University from going ahead with the conversion.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, Prof. Yankah said he was irritated by the incident of the alleged harassment, and expects the university authority to deal ruthlessly with the perpetrators.
“The major issue about the harassment of women, I was really outraged by that. I am expecting the University to immediately institute investigations into this and the culprits brought to book.”
“And very firmly I must say state that we must set a good example. We cannot accept the harassment of students when they are strictly complying with laid down procedure by the law and by the University.”
Court throws out case against conversion of KNUST halls
In throwing out the case at the Kumasi High Court 2, Justice Samuel Obeng Diawuo, who presided over the case explained that the applications came after the University had allocated accommodation to students who had admissions.
The Judge also explained that granting the request by the plaintiffs will cause inconvenience for fresh students who had already secured accommodation at the University.
Lead counsel of the Katanga Hall, Stephen Asante Bekoe addressing journalists after the ruling, disagreed with court’s explanations as reasons for quashing the case.
He hinted that they will proceed to the Supreme Court for a proper interpretation of the matter.
Background
Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have converted all traditional halls of the school into mixed halls.
The halls include the all-female hall, Africa Hall.
This meant that, with effect from the 2018/19 academic year, all six halls of residence of the University are mixed halls.
According to management, it took the decision “in line with the university’s policy of periodic review of Residential Accommodation for students.”
In a statement released by the University, it noted that “the University’s policy of expanding access to female students remain unchanged.”
SOURCE: Ghanaweb.com
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