NUGS demands probe into alleged police assault on Techiman Krobo nursing students during campus protests
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has condemned the alleged assault of students of the Techiman Krobo Nursing Training College by officers of the Ghana Police Service during a demonstration over welfare concerns.
The students reportedly embarked on a peaceful protest on Monday, July 27, to demand improvements in areas including feeding, sanitation, communication between management and the Students' Representative Council (SRC), and other conditions affecting their academic and living environment.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 28, and signed by its President Rashid Ibrahim, Esq., NUGS said the students resorted to the demonstration after previous attempts to engage authorities over their concerns failed to produce the needed response.
"NUGS strongly condemns the reported assault on these students. The use of force against unarmed students who were peacefully expressing their concerns is unacceptable and has no place in a democratic society," the statement read in part.
The student body argued that students, like all citizens, have a constitutional right to peacefully assemble and demonstrate, adding that this right should not be restricted because they are on a school campus.
NUGS called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to order a thorough and independent investigation into the incident and ensure that any officer found to have acted unlawfully is held accountable.
It also urged the Ministry of Health and the management of the Techiman Krobo Nursing Training College to provide medical support to any injured students and address the welfare issues that triggered the protest.
"We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately order a thorough and independent investigation into the incident and ensure that any officer found to have acted unlawfully is held accountable," said the student body.