Minority condemns Police and poly students confrontation

The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday condemned the confrontation between the Police and the polytechnic students during a demonstration on Tuesday, which led to several of them being injured.

A statement signed by Mr Kosi Kedem, ranking member on education, said: "We are dismayed by the high handedness of the Police to the students which resulted in several of them being arrested and injured.

"It said the Minority last week urged the government to take appropriate action on the demands of the students to forestall such an unfortunate incident." The Minority said it also called on the leadership of the students to withdraw their ultimatum to the government and call off the strike, adding; "unfortunately, this timely appeal went unheeded".

Police arrested nearly 40 students when they demonstrated through to the streets to the Castle, Osu to draw attention to their demands to change their grading system. The polytechnic students have been on strike since January.

The statement said it was ironical that just two days to the celebration of the 28th February Crossroads Shooting Incident that led to the death of Sergeant Adjetey and his colleagues, a similar incident of Police brutality should occur at the same spot. (This time around an Adjetey is in the Castle and not at the Crossroads).

The Minority appealed to the government and the polytechnic students to exercise maximum restraint in the interest of the nation. The statement said the minority expressed sympathy to the injured students and wished them speedy recovery.