Stand With The KNUST SRC - V. L. K. Djokoto

The 22 October 2018 KNUST Riot revealed a total loss of confidence in the administrative functions of one of Ghana’s foremost centres of scholarship, by its very own student community. The non-violent, sober and well-coordinated protest was marred by gunshots fired by the police to disperse the crowd, arousing a spontaneous outburst of frustration. This led to the unfortunate destruction of properties by a few student protesters.

A section of the media has since portrayed the grievances of the students as a circus of hooliganism – turning a blind eye to the legitimate motives behind the protest and the decision of the KNUST SRC to the petition the Vice-Chancellor.

The operation of KNUST's internal security department as a vigilante group was the focus of the protest. Blatantly disregarding the human rights of citizens and the laws governing the Republic, students were physically assaulted with tasers, rods and unlawfully detained in the private cell of the security department.

Gruesome videos have circulated on social media exposing the savagery of the security department despite their attempts to crack down on this exposé. According to an official statement by the KNUST Students' Representative Council, an Angel FM journalist was arrested while reporting on an incident involving student brutality during a vigil to honour a recently deceased member of the KNUST student community.

Students initially expressed their grievances through the SRC, which then forwarded their complaints to the administrative authorities on several occasions, demanding an end to student brutality. The Dean of Students and District Police were informed of the decision by the SRC to embark on a non-violent protest against the several injustices suffered by their comrades.

The authorities failed to engage the SRC in any meaningful dialogue as a step towards a peaceful resolution. Instead, a threat was issued on 21 October 2018 by the administration, via bulk messaging, to supposedly suppress the protest. The riots could have been averted if the Vice-Chancellor heeded the advice of the SRC. The inaction of the authorities, therefore, arguably renders them complicit in the perpetuation of student brutality.

I do not believe the destruction of properties by protestors was premeditated – such is the mood of a citizenry exhausted with the failure of leadership.

The security department is a direct instrument of oppression and a threat to the welfare of the student community. It must be dissolved with immediate effect and the culprits must be dealt with by the law of the Republic. In such an oppressive environment, the freedom guaranteed students within the boundaries of law have been consistently suppressed. My sympathies are with the student community at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.