University of Ghana Authorities to lift sanctions on vandals

The Old Vandals Association (OVA) said on Saturday that the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana has given an indication to lift various sanctions imposed on students of Commonwealth Hall following their unruly and indecent behaviour during the celebration of Vandals Day last November.

A statement signed by Alhaji Razak El-Alawa, Greater Accra President of OVA, said Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah gave the assurance during a meeting with the National Executive of OVA.

It said this was after the student body had unreservedly apologised for their indecent behaviour, which had caused a lot of embarrassment to the Old Vandals and Hall Authorities.

The statement said the Old Vandals only agreed to intervene provided the students apologised to the Vice Chancellor, the Chairman and members of the Senate of the Old Vandals.

The statement quoted the Vice-Chancellor as saying he was left with no option than to forgive the students since the Hall authorities had accepted the apology from the students and had initiated moves to unconditionally lift the ban on introductory letters to the students of Commonwealth Hall for passports and visas. Prof. Addae-Mensah denied that the sanctions ever included a ban on the students going to the Balm Library or to seek medical attention at the University Library.

In a letter to the Vice-Chancellor after the acceptance of the students' apology, the Master of Commonwealth Hall, Mr Harry Akussah, said the sanctions placed on the students had achieved the purpose of drawing the attention of students, particularly Commonwealth Hall students and parents, to the fact that indecent and unruly behaviour would not be tolerated.