Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah University Has Been Shut Down Following Student Protests
The school is closed indefinitely following violent protests on Monday against "brutality" by university security.
Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Knust) in the city of Kumasi, has been shut down indefinitely following student protests that occurred on Monday, which turned violent.
Students gathered in support of 11 students who had been arrested last Friday night for participating in a weekly party, known as jamborees—a gathering that the vice chancellor had recently banned, claiming that the events caused "misbehavior" and "profanity" on campus. One of the students was injured during while arrested, and students are calling for the vice chancellor to step down, BBC Africa reports.
Many students found the measures employed by campus security to be extreme and began demonstrations against mistreatment and "brutality" by the school's security and administration on Monday. Some students boycotted classes, marched, mounted roadblocks, and some are reported to have vandalized property.
All students have been asked to evacuate the campus today, with the exception of foreign students who the university says it will provide security for.
People on the ground took to social media both today and yesterday to share footage from the protests, using the hashtag #SayNoToBurtalityKnust.
Some students, supporters and artists have shared messages urging students to remain non-violent in their approach, including former Knust student, Mr Eazi.
Others have pointed out that the current unrest is a symptom of the adverse treatment that many students face on university campuses.
