NUGS Condemns Continuous Closure Of Casford

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) says it is disappointed with the decision of the authorities of the University of Cape Coast to close the Casely Hayford Hall for the rest of the semester. It said the closure had brought untold hardship on the students already and there was therefore not reason to continue with it. A committee set up to investigate an impasse between student residents of the hall of those of Atlantic Hall recommended that the hall remain closed for the rest of the semester. The disturbances led to closure of the Casford hall. The committee also recommended that the hall be banned from holding a hall week celebration for two years. Atlantic hall has also been banned for one. But the NUGS president, Kweku Tuoho Bombason told Joy News that the recommendation was unfortunate. He said the union had arranged for the students to apologise for their actions one of the reasons cited by the authorities for not opening the hall. According to him, it appears the university authorities had an interest in ensuring that the hall remained closed. He said NUGS will make known its next line of action on the matter even though the semester has almost come to a close. Reacting to the concerns of NUGS, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Mr. Baaladoo Manu welcome the recommendation of the committee. He condemned the actions of the students saying that violence, which the students were accused of, could not be tolerated by society. He noted that there were laid down procedures in addressing grievances, and the students aught to have explored those channels. Meanwhile the Public Affairs Director of the university told Joy News that another committee has been empanelled to reorganise the Casford hall. Mr. Jeff Onyame says that is to ensure discipline in the hall when it is eventually opened.