The University of Ghana would have to pause its implementation of the new residential policy following a court decision.
The High Court granted an interlocutory injunction after agitated students of the Commonwealth Hall filed a suit on January 6.
The students are against the university’s directive to students already in the school’s residential facilities to seek accommodation outside campus.
The University on October 26, 2022, asked continuing students of the Commonwealth Hall to look for accommodation outside campus.
“All continuing students of Commonwealth Hall and continuing male students of Mensah Sarbah Hall will not return to these halls, or to any of the traditional halls.”
It says they will be randomly assigned to available rooms in any of the UGEL and private hostels.
UG said only Level 100 and graduate students (Masters and PhD level) will be assigned to Sarbah and Commonwealth Halls.
“Subsequently, undergraduate students will vacate the halls at the end of Level 100”.
It said “they may secure accommodation in the private hostels from Level 200 until completion.”
However, the court said the University must stick to the arrangement that existed before the directive on October 26, 2022.
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Defendant herein is hereby restrained either by itself or its officers, assigns, privies, agents, workmen or anybody working under the Defendant’s instructions from going ahead to implement the decision of the Defendant, dated 26th October 2022 in respect of the residential policy decision affecting continuing students of Commonwealth Hall, University of Ghana. The status quo must be maintained, as it used to be before the 26th October 2022 decision was taken”.
UG said the directive was taken after a fight between students resulting in the demolition of John Mensah Sarbah’s statue.
