Old Vandal MPs Petition Speaker Over ‘Stubborn’ UG Management

Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the Old Vandals Association have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament over the refusal by the Management of the University of Ghana (UG) to reinstate affected students of Commonwealth Hall, in spite of a directive by the court.

According to the MPs, “The continuous refusal by the Management of the University of Ghana to reinstate the affected students as ordered by the Court is unacceptable, unlawful and must not be countenanced.”

The Old Vandal MPs, in a joint statement by Dr. Clement Apaak and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor,read on the floor of Parliament yesterday, March 29, 2023, expressed concern as to why the university is adamant in carrying out the orders of the court.

“As an institution of higher learning, and especially as Ghana’s foremost university, one could not expect less from the University of Ghana with regards to discipline where the law so commands,” the MPs noted.

The Commercial Division of the High Court, on 6 January 2023, granted an ex-parte application for interlocutory injunction against the implementation of University of Ghana’s new residential policy,”Old Vandals stated.

They insisted that, “By this statement Mr. Speaker, we the alumni of Commonwealth Hall, known popularly as OLD VANDALS in this Parliament of Ghana, back calls by associations and individuals who have called on the Management of the University of Ghana to heed the decision of the Court, and to ensure that continuing students who resided in the Commonwealth Hall are reinstated to provide them the peace of mind for their academic activities pending the final determination of the case.”

Below Is Published, The Full Statement:

JOINT STATEMENT BY HON DR. CLEMENT APAAK & ROCKSON-NELSON DAFEAMEKPOR CALLING ON THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA TO RESPECT THE RULING OF THE COURT AND REINSTATE CONTINUING STUDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH HALL 29th March 2023

Mr. Speaker, I (Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South) read this statement on behalf of the alumni of Commonwealth Hall, University of Ghana, who are members of this Parliament of Ghana. Mr. Speaker our statement is a call on the University of Ghana to abide by the law and reinstate continuing students of our legendary Hall, also known as Vandal City.

Mr. Speaker, by way of background, the Commonwealth Hall is the most popular of the five traditional Halls at the University of Ghana and the only all-male of the university. It is the third Hall constructed at the university to provide accommodation for students of the school, following the first – Legon Hall and the second – Akuafo Hall.

Commonwealth Hall got its name after Ghana gained independence from Great Britain in 1957 after the first batch of students were admitted into the Hall at the beginning of the 1956 – 1957 academic year. Our Hall was officially namedin line with Ghana’s admission into the Commonwealth of Nations and was subsequently officially launched in March 1957.

Mr. Speaker, the motto of Commonwealth Hall is, “Truth stands”, a phrase taken from a quotation from John Donne’s Satire III poems, a line which reads, “”On a huge hill, cragged, and steep, Truth stands and he that will reach her, about must and about must go”.

Members of Commonwealth Hall call ourselves Vandals. A VANDAL in Commonwealth Hall membership terms is an abbreviation that describes the attributes of members of the Hall – past, present and future. Our acronym, Vandals, stands for – V: Vivacious, A: Affable, N: Neighbourly, D: Devoted, A: Altruistic, and L: Loyal.

Mr. Speaker, we believe Vandalism is a way of life that promotes respect for all without any prejudice and is the highest form of religion or culture that promotes fairness, equality, freedom, and justice for all. We are known for representing the voices of the voiceless, the marginalised and the less privileged in society. We pride ourselves with leadership qualities.

Mr. Speaker, following the decision by the Management of the University of Ghana to remove all continuing students who resided in the Commonwealth Hall and to replace same with freshers and graduate students, some students sought redress in Court.

Mr. Speaker, in the main, in order that justice will be served, the Commercial Division of the High Court, on 6 January 2023, granted an ex parte application for interlocutory injunction to the students (Plaintiffs/Applicants) and ordered the University of Ghana (Defendant/Respondent) and its officers, assigns, privies, agents, workmen and all persons working under its instructions to refrain from implementing the decision of the Respondent’s Residence Board taken at its meeting held on 26th October, 2022, in respect of the residential policy affecting all continuing students of the Commonwealth Hall for 10 days. The Court further ordered the Applicants to repeat the application on notice after the expiration of the 10 days.

After having heard both parties – following the application on notice by the Applicants – the Court, on 9 February 2023, repeated the earlier restraining order and added that it was to last until the final determination of the case.

Mr. Speaker, this order was an express statement that the status quo, prior to the decision made by the Respondent’s Residence Board on 26th October, 2022, was to be maintained until the substantive matter was determined.

Mr Speaker, to date, this order has been flagrantly disregarded as though same was not granted and ordered. Since the granting of this order, the Management of the University of Ghana have refused to act in accordance with the dictates of the order. The police and other allied security personnel have been employed by the Management of the University of Ghana to frustrate the efforts being made by the students to call attention of the Management of the University of Ghana to obey the orders of the Court and to reinstate them.

As an institution of higher learning, and especially as Ghana’s foremost university, one could not expect less from the University of Ghana with regards to discipline where the law so commands.

By this statement Mr. Speaker, we the alumni of Commonwealth Hall, known popularly as OLD VANDALS in this Parliament of Ghana, back calls by associations and individuals who have called on the Management of the University of Ghana to heed the decision of the Court, and to ensure that continuing students who resided in the Commonwealth Hall are reinstated to provide them the peace of mind for their academic activities pending the final determination of the case.

The continuous refusal by the Management of the University of Ghana to reinstate the affected students as ordered by the Court is unacceptable, unlawful and must not be countenanced.

Mr. Speaker, we call on you, and this august house, to join us and well-meaning Ghanaians to impress upon the University of Ghana to do the needful by respecting the laws of the land.

Most grateful Mr. Speaker.

Source:  Anchorghana