Gov’t must probe Obiri Danso’s ‘reign of terror’ on Katangees in KNUST - Prof Azar

US-based Ghanaian Accounting Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare is calling on the government to institute a probe in what he calls a reign of terror at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Professor Kwaku Azar as he is affectionately called said there is the need for a lasting solution to the problem on the campus.

Prof Azar’s comment follows a MyNewsGh.com exclusive report yesterday that a third-year student affiliated to the Katanga Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is currently battling for his life at the University’s Hospital in Kumasi after he was brutalized by the school’s security on Friday night, as sources at the hospital have confirmed to MyNewsGh.com that the victim has lost his memory as a result of severe wounds he suffered on his head.

MyNewsGh.com further published a photograph of him on his sickbed shows traces of blood on the bedding, a plaster to his ears and occiput and a swollen mouth.

Reacting to the development, Prof Azar wrote:

“I stand with the Katangese and other KNUST students in rejecting the current reign of terror and in unequivocally condemning the police brutality that has led to the arrest of 11 students, including the beating that has culminated in a student losing his memory.”

He added: ”It is past time for the security forces to leave the campus; for a probe to be instituted to determine the causes of this reign of terror; and, to find an effective and lasting solution to housing the students.”

In another post he said:

“Let us pray for the Katangense student who has lost his memory as a result of being brutalized by university security, unleashed on the students by university authorities.”

”Most of my mates and I would be dead by now if holding a campus vigil was met with the current level of brutality. Da Yie!” he wrote.

Background

The School’s security on Friday [19th October, 2018] pounced on unarmed students who were having a peaceful vigil at the forecourt of the hall in protest of management’s freeze on “morale”, a usual Friday night jamboree in all the halls at the school.

The University in a communique signed and posted both the Continental Hall and University Hall Management asked the student body to cease their usual ‘Friday Night Morale’ as the school has suspended the activity.

The notice on read”Notice is hereby given that all forms of “morales” in and around the University Hall are suspended with immediate effect. This decision was taken in view of several negative issues encountered recently with respect to morales in the hall. Any person who flouts this directive shall receive the necessary sanction and response”.

Angel FM’s Nanayaw Amagyei who was at the school at the time of the incident told MyNewsGh.com that , school security numbering over 20 and armed to the teeth who said they were “only carrying out an order”, pounced on the students who had gathered at the forecourt and singing dirges, arrested seven and brutalized them with canes and stun guns unprovoked.

The rampaging security men, escorted by some officers of the KNUST Police accosted the journalist (Nana Yaw Amagyei) who was filming the students at the vigil and ceased his video camera, before unleashing the attack on the unsuspecting students, after being convinced that there was no camera or recorder in hand to record their deeds.

The said camera is still in the custody of the KNUST security as at the time of filing this story.

An alumnus of the hall, whose name was not immediately known but nicknamed as “Ashaina”, who was present at the time of the attack is also in the custody of the Tech Police after been brutalized and whisked away in a security van alongside seven students.