The Ashanti Regional branch of the Old Vandals Association (OVA) have added its voice to the call of their colleagues nationwide to authorities of the University of Ghana, Legon, to reconsider their decision of turning Commonwealth Hall into a mixed graduate hall, describing it as “an insult to common sense”.
In a release issued in Kumasi and signed by the acting Regional Chairman, Ben Kufuor, the Ashanti old vandals expressed their disappointment at the university’s decision.
“We are completely shocked and surprised that the authorities have blatantly disregarded the work of the committee set up to investigate the incident and have gone ahead to sanction the implementation of the above mentioned decision”, it emphasised.
Like their colleagues nationwide, they were of the belief that the decision of the university authorities was a calculated attempt to destroy the hall to satisfy the whims and caprices of a few disgruntled individuals serving on the board of the university.
According to them, if the hall authorities were hell bent on accommodating more female students, then there was absolutely no need to convert other blocks to only female halls and special blocks given out to female students who could easily afford high charges at the expense of the less-privileged students.
“The decision to convert the hall into an all graduate hall and accommodate graduate students some of whom are gainfully employed and better paid is an insult to common sense, justice and fairness, considering the fact that thousands of ordinary and less-privileged students can hardly afford two square meals; let alone afford the high cost of accommodation against the background of the in-out-out policy”, they noted.
“The question we are asking now is: Does it make sense to accommodate graduate students who can afford the high cost of accommodation and have course structures flexible enough to allow them to operate from outside campus at the expense of the ordinary student”, they enquired.
The OVA Ashanti branch pointed out that it was obvious that the university authorities did not have the welfare of the students at heart and were only interested in how much money they could make from them.
They alleged that some of the university board members had connections with some hostel owners who were eager and waiting patiently to absorb the unfortunate undergraduates who will be thrown out of the hall at a cut-throat fee.
It is an open secret, according to them, that Commonwealth Hall had over the years produced some of the most industrious leaders in the country some of whom came from very humble backgrounds and were only fortunate to have been attached to the hall.
Such leaders could have their dreams shattered by virtue of their inability to afford the high cost of accommodation, tuition among others.
They were of the conviction that if steps were not taken to stop them from implementing the afore-mentioned policies, a time would come when the entire student front would be so broken that nobody would dare challenge the authorities on any policy they introduce regardless of how disastrous the consequences would be for students.
The OVA in Ashanti, however, assured the Junior Common Room (JCR) and the entire student body of their solid support in using ‘All possible means’ to prevent the authorities from carrying out their ‘wicked and ill-intent’ action.
STORY: FROM JAMES APPIAKORANG JNR., KUMASI
