Court orders reinstatement of UCC students involved in alleged misconduct

A Cape Coast High Court has ordered the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to reinstate 22 students of the institution it rusticated for alleged misconduct.
The Court presided over by Mr Justice William Boampong also ordered the institution to pay 10,000 cedis each to the 22 students and make provisions to restore all other benefits and rights they are entitled to.
There was spontaneous jubilation immediately after the ruling by the students who were in court with their sympathisers outside the court.
According to the Court, the institution failed to provide evidence of the said students’ involvement in the violence that erupted after a misunderstanding between some students of Oguaa Hall and that of Atlantic Hall, Kwame University of Science and Technology and the University of Ghana early this year.
Speaking to the media after the ruling, Mr Patrick Kojo Justice, Counsel of the students thanked the Court and appealed to the institution to respect the order of the court to ensure that the students complete their education successfully.
He lauded the students for comporting themselves whiles seeking justice.
Mr Prince Attachey Sarfo, a student in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said the rustication has put a lot of emotional stress on them and their families including the opportunity to graduate.
It could be recalled that violence broke out between students of the University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Friday March 17 2017 during a hall anniversary of Atlantic Hall.
Students from these institutions were prevented by Oguaa Hall students from entering their hall resulting in a violent clashes.
This led to severe injuries to three students as well as extensive destruction of both public and private properties belonging to the school and some lecturers.
The University authorities constituted an eight member committee to investigate the incident and recommended disciplinary action which resulted in the rustication of the students who are mostly executives of the Atlantic Hall Junior Common Room.
The Committee’s reasons were that they disregarded the authority of the University and were negligent in their duties, thus leading to non-compliance of directives from the Dean of Students.
Some old students of Atlantic Hall took the matter to the court and on Tuesday May 23, got an order of interim injunction restraining the University authorities from preventing the 22 students from writing the end of semester examination.
The court further ruled that UCC should also refrain from interfering in any way whatsoever with the academic work of the students.