KNUST Governing Council abolishes JCR elections- URO

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s (KNUST) Relations Officer, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe says the Management of the school has resolved to abolish the elections of executives for the various halls of residence on campus, Purefmonline.com.

Students of the University hall (Katanga) and Unity Hall (Conti) clashed during a procession by some members of Katanga. This is not the first time such incident has occurred in the school by these two halls.

This time around, eleven people were injured, while nine vehicles belonging to staff of the institution were vandalized.

Following the outcome of the incident, a fact-finding committee was tasked to investigate the cause of the incident and make appropriate recommendations. The Governing Council of the University last Friday in a communique begun the implementation of the recommendations made by the committee.

In a clarification of the Governing Council’s decision, the URO explained on Kumasi-based Pure FM on Tuesday August 30, that other hostels on the University campus like Brunei, TekCredit, GUSS Hostels, Master Card and various private hostels all have recorded zero incidents of vandalism and dangerous acts despite not having student executives in the hostels.

He noted that, the University Council find it prudent to abolish the elections of Junior Common Room (JCR) executives to man the halls since the administration of the residences will not be impeded by their absence.

He however admitted that, as and when necessary, the Management of the various halls may appoint floor and block representatives who will strictly be first year students to serve as liaison officers between the management and the inmates of the various halls.

“The Council has decided to abolish the voting system for hall executives. Take hostels like Brunei, Tek Credit and GUSS hostels, they all do not vote for any executive but their administration have been smooth with no recorded violent activities. This mean the administration of the halls of residence can do away with the election of executives and still succeed.

So from next academic year, we won’t be electing any hall representative. When it becomes necessary, we might appoint block and floor reps who will be strictly first years to serve as liaison officers. Never again should we record any form of violent acts of students on campus and we urge all and sundry to help us in our quest.

You can’t stay in the hall of residence for just a year as required and come back to to the hostel as a resident. No continuing student will be allowed to occupy any of the halls of residence as a guest or inmate. It is not allowed. If any student flout this directive, the appropriate sanctions will be applied.” Dr. Bekoe told host, Kwame Adjei Bohyen on Pure FM.

The JCR elections in time past has seen continuing students who are not occupants of the halls contesting for executive positions in the various halls of residences.

Their participation in the elections has led to the occurrence of various forms of violent acts, destruction of school properties and perpetuating of what many has described as ‘barbaric’ tradition.

Source: Purefmonline.com II Evans Osei-Bonsu || 2022.