Prosper Tsikata, a Ghanaian postgraduate student of the University of Hull was involved in a racist attack on the Cottingham Road, Hull that has left him in clutches and the future of his studies hangs in the balance.
Prosper; who is recuperating after an operation to his knee at the Hull Royal Infirmary narrated the incident to friends and well-wishers. According to him, while on his bicycle to lectures, the attacker, who is a white man, shouted ? a black thing on a black bicycle?. As if that was not enough, the attacker run after him and stamped his knee. Prosper fell off the bike, but managed to limp to lectures. However, after lectures he could not move and the Hull University?s International Office had to call in an ambulance, which sent him to the hospital.
In a related development, the nurses at the Royal Infirmary also gave Prosper a wrong injection only to realise it later. He lamented that the wrong injection prevented him from urinating for a whole day.
What is interesting is that the Humerside police are now downloading their CCTV?s; a week after the attack took place to see if they can get the attacker. But it is the view of most Ghanaians and other Africans here that the police will do nothing about it. After all, the victim is a black man.
When the University was contacted, they confirmed the story, and added this is the second racist incident involving an international student. This is not good for a University that attracts lots of foreign students.
ATTACK STUDENT LEFT IN AGONY
14:30 - 19 February 2004 -- Ghanaian student Prosper Tsikata, who was assaulted in an unprovoked racist attack, today condemned passers-by who left him lying in agony in the road. He says one woman even shouted at the 31-year-old - whose knee was shattered - to get out of the way as she would be late for work.
From his hospital bed in Hull Royal Infirmary, he said: "I was shocked. In Africa, if someone needed help then people would help, no question, and it wouldn't matter if they were black or white."
Mr Tsikata, a student at Hull University, was cycling to a lecture at 9am on Thursday, February 12, when he says a shaven-headed white man, walking along Newland Avenue, Hull, with his partner and small child, shouted racist abuse at him.
The student, who moved from Ghana to Washington Street, Hull, in September, admits he answered back and was then chased down the road by the thug.
The man eventually gave up but Mr Tsikata realised he had left his money at home and turned back.
It meant he had to pedal past the man again, and this time he lashed out at Mr Tsikata, kicking his knee and forcing him off his cycle.
Mr Tsikata, who is recovering from an operation on his knee, said: "He took off his shirt as I was lying in the road, and was shouting at me, ready for a fight. He wanted me to get up and retaliate but I didn't."
Mr Tsikata said when the man realised he was not going to fight back, he ran off.
The student said two cars drove up as he was lying in the road and asked him to move out of the way.
"One woman wound her window down and said, "Move. I'll be late for work'," said Mr Tsikata
"Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens in 21st century England but people should be more accepting of each other."
Mr Tsikata hobbled to university, using his cycle as a crutch, and an ambulance was called.
Police are appealing for help in tracking down the attacker who is described as 25 to 30 years old, and was wearing a T-shirt and faded denim jeans.
Anyone with details should ring police on (01482) 597500.
