New residential policy for Legon students

Accra, 26 July, GNA - Authorities at the University of Ghana, Legon, have reversed their revised residential policy that triggered demonstrations at the end of the last semester saying it would offer residential facilities to first year and final year students as well as the physically challenged; hall executives, sportsmen and sportswomen. "After an exhaustive discussion with the student Leadership on the residential options available, the University of Ghana has decided to offer all its own residential facilities to first year and final year students, as well as the physically challenged, sportsmen, sportswomen and hall executives", a statement signed by Mr A. T. Konu, Registrar, and Ms Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor, Student Representative Council President, said.

This means the University has reverted to its "in-out-out-in" residential policy instead of the "in-out-out-out" policy it sought to implement that would have given residential accommodation to only first year students.

The statement said the new residential policy would give priority to freshmen and fresh women and then to final year students who had not been in residence since the first year. The statement said the prioritized category excluded students, who would be changing from the diploma programme to degree and postgraduate law students.

"In the case of final year students - that is Level 400 students there will be balloting for places available."

The statement mentioned Legon Hall; Akuafo Hall; Commonwealth Hall; Volta Hall and Mensah Sarbah Hall as the University's own residential facilities.

The rest are Jubilee Hall, President's annexe, International Students' Hostel (A&B).

The University appealed to the student body, Alumni and the general public to support this residential policy as it sought the assistance of commercial banks to augment the stock of residential facilities on the campus.

The students staged demonstrations and presented a petition to the Government to intervene in the dispute with the University Authorities on the revised residential policy.