The High Court in Accra has cited seven principal officers of the University of Ghana (UG) for contempt of court, following an application filed by 169 students. The officers, including the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Head of Security, and Head of IT, have been accused of disregarding an injunction order issued by the court.
The dispute arises from a new residential policy implemented by the university, which sought to remove all continuing students from Commonwealth Hall and male students from Mensah Sarbah Hall and assign them to other hostels. Despite the court ordering the “status quo” to be maintained before October 26, 2022, and the assignment of beds for continuing students until the matter was heard, the university failed to comply.
Reporters from Happyghana.com and other media outlets observed that continuing students were denied entry into the halls, with some sleeping in the car park and walkways of the university.
It remains to be seen how the court’s decision will impact the ongoing conflict between the university and its students. The citation of the principal officers for contempt of court highlights the serious nature of the situation and the importance of complying with court orders.
