UCC to appeal High Court decision over reinstatement of 22 expelled students

The University of Cape Coast is set to appeal the Cape Coast High Court decision quashing the rustication of 22 students of the Atlantic Hall for their alleged roles in a violence that claimed the life of one person last March.

The court presided over by Justice Owusu Boampong upheld claims of the students that not only were they not given a fair hearing in the matter but also the university was not able to adduce evidence to link the 22 directly to the clash which happened at the Oguaa hall during a hall week celebration.

The court went on to award cost of GHC10,000 for each of the 22 against the university and also directed the university to organise fresh exams for the 22 leading to their graduation.

Ultimate News’ sources at the corridors of the University’s administration, however, reveals that the university finds the decision of the court untenable as it is seen by many as having the potential to cripple maintenance of discipline at the university.

Many students including student leaders, the source explained will be irresponsible thereby making the campus ungovernable by engaging in crime knowing well all they need to do is to make sure they leave no traces which will cause them to be directly linked to the crime.

Again, the university finds the financial component and the directive to organise exams and separate graduation for the said students as amounting to a bad precedent which students will exploit to the detriment of the spirit and letter of the university.

Meanwhile, the beleaguered former President of the Atlantic Hall Enoch Bart Plange speaking to Ultimate News’ Central regional correspondent Kwaku Baah-Acheamfour on the development, explained that the cost awarded against the university is a step in the right direction and doesn’t think the university can overturn the judgement in court though they have the right to go to court.