Former University of Ghana student arrested

Accra, April 27, GNA - The police have arrested Lord Hammah, a former student of the University of Ghana to help in investigations into letters threatening the lives of lecturers of the University. The room of a student has also been searched and a computer and documents impounded.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbila told the Ghana News Agency that Hammah, am aspiring candidate in last year's SRC election was later arrested for his involvement in the last week's demonstration against the University's new residential policy that offers accommodation to only first year students.

DCOP Timbila said when the students of the University Ghana marched towards the Castle last week to present a petition to the President to protest the the In-Out-Out-Out residential policy, Hammah was spotted around the 37 Military Hospital in a car by the demonstrating students and they made him to join them while he was no longer a student. He added that Hammah addressed the demonstrating students although he had no right to join the students. DCOP Timbila said Hammah was also picked to help in investigations into the letters being circulated on the University campus threatening lecturers.

He said his men were on the ground to bring sanity on the University Campus.

Speaking on rampant armed robbery on Campus, he said the police was patrolling day and night to fight the menace. Meanwhile, Police have searched the room of another student at Commonwealth Hall and impounded his computer and some documents. The police said they were still investigating and would take action against anybody found guilty.

The Legon Police Command said on Thursday that was investigating a threat to the lives of lecturers and their families by a shadowy group which claims it is protesting the University's new residential policy of in-out-out-out that gives official residence to only the first year students.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Michael Tecku told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Thursday that he had also reported the threat to the National Security.

The letter was written by the unknown Militant African Youth Against Neo-colonialism.

One of the letters seen by GNA with the headline Operation BHABOTOLD was addressed to the Head of the Department of Archaeology, Dr. Kodjo Gawua.

The writers claim there would be balloting for their victims and their actions would start with the "unlucky one" in 72 hours. The letter which the group claimed was signed with blood reads: "Your silence on a sensitive issue as the proposed in-out-out-out residential policy has only made you an ally of the Vice Chancellor's imperialist ..We have categorically stated that the content of the policy, its timing and modus operandi are all with sinister motive. "You know that quality university education goes beyond writing examinations, but that is what you are bent on doing despite our calls for a general boycott, until that neo-colonialist policy is withdrawn." The letter states that for this reason, the lecturer and/or family have become targets for "Operation BHABOTOLD". This, it added, meant acid attacks against the lecturer and his family, arson on the home, car and office; maiming and kidnapping.

"We shall make you an example of history," the letter said. The President of the University of Ghana Students' Representative Council, Ms Louise Serwaa Donkor said the executives had decided that students should write the examinations and later continue to discuss the new in-ou-out-out policy introduced by the University authorities. The Police have beefed up their strength at the Legon Police Command where Police water cannon, is among vehicles that have been brought.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwesi Yankah told the GNA that there was no trouble on the campus. "Everything is calm," he said, adding that there was no disturbance.

He said examinations had started and the authorities would make sure that students writing their papers were protected. Prof. Yankah warned that any student who refused to write their examinations would be given Grade X.

Students of the University of Ghana last week staged a demonstration to protest the decision of the authorities to change the present residential policy from in-out-out-in to in-out-out-out. Under the previous policy, students had official residential accommodation in the first and final year students. because of pressure on official residential accommodation.

The Government on Wednesday urged students of the University of Ghana to remain calm while government discusses their concerns about the new residential policy with the authorities with a view to addressing them. 27 April 07