At least 62 students allegedly involved in last Thursday rioting on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been declared wanted by the court.
The students attached to Katanga and Unity (Continental) halls went on rampage on Thursday night, destroying cars and other property on campus during a hall week celebration.
An eyewitness said that some students from Katanga who embarked on a procession attempted to use the route in front of the Unity Hall, but were met with fierce resistance by their colleagues at the university halls.
The latest incident could be linked to a hall week celebration, according to some students. For over a decade, the two halls reached an agreement never to go beyond a particular junction (Peace junction) when on procession.
Two more suspects linked to the disturbances at the KNUST have also been remanded into police custody by the Asokore Mampong District Court, bringing the number of arrested persons to three.
The accused persons Daniel Osei Bonsu and Francis Tutu Atuahene will reappear before the court on 8 September 8 having appeared in court on Wednesday 24 August.
The police head of legal and prosecution in the Ashanti Region ACP Kofi Blagodzi said efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects.
Suspension of hall week celebrations
Meanwhile, officials of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have suspended all hall and SRC week celebrations indefinitely following the disturbances.
In a statement on Friday (19 August 2022), the university directed that “massing up of students leading up to ‘morale‘ activities and procession is suspended indefinitely.”
The university has also ordered a random security check of persons and vehicles entering and exiting the institution.
They further appreciated the security agencies and the Ashanti regional police command for their swift intervention to calm the situation.
