Update: 24 out of 33 students identified in scuffle at UCC campus – Authorities

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It has emerged that 24 out of the 33 suspects who were arrested by police at the KNUST campus have been identified as students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

UCC Management has also confirmed that the suspects, who are members of a group known as the Economic Fighters League, are being interrogated by the police over the violence that broke out between students of the Atlantic and Oguaa halls respectively, on February 22 2020.

The confirmation comes after the authorities of the University verified from their records the names of the students.

According to the acting head of Public Affairs of the UCC, Kwabena Antwi Konadu, the 33 individuals are still in the custody of the Central Regional Police Command for their involvement in the violence that occurred between the halls.

”These individuals who were arrested claim they come from the Univerisity of Cape Coast and so as the case be, we had to receive official communication from the police. Management met and then we detailed the dean of students and other officers to get in touch which the police which they did,” he told Accra-based Citi FM.

”So officially we were given the list and particulars of the people who claimed they were part of UCC. After going through the students’ system we can confirm that by our investigation 24 of them have registration numbers and their particulars tally with what we have in the system. So we can assume that these 24 are students of the University of Cape Coast and the 9 as we speak haven’t been able to identify their particulars”, he explained.

Background

A bloody scuffle erupted between students of the Oguaa and the Atlantic halls of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) recently which led to the destruction of properties leaving left three persons injured.

It still remains unclear what sparked the incident, though police are yet to give a full account to the media.

Management of the University has since suspended all hall week celebrations and its related activities.

Release, compensate arrested UCC students — Economic Fighters League

Meanwhile, members of the Economic Fighters League had warned of several actions if the students of the UCC were not released.

The group in a statement also demanded a compensation for the students.

The suspects were rounded up at the university during the climax of a hall week celebration by students of the Unity Hall of KNUST.

The police said the suspects failed to explain why they were on the campus at midnight when they were rounded up and, thus, transferred to the Regional CID in Kumasi.

Fighters UCC, in a statement, said they view “this act as one of the numerous cases of suppression of the students, and we condemn it, unreservedly.”

“This act is consistent with the indemnity clause in the Sakawa Constitution where the officers’ faction of the indigenous bourgeoisie class oppresses civilians with impunity,” the statement said.

By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH | joevica18@gmail.com