The University of Ghana Legon branch of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UG-UTAG) has condemned what it said was an invasion of National Security Personnel on the University of Ghana campus.
National Security Personnel stormed the University of Ghana campus on October 20, 2021, to police the just ended Student Representative Council (SRC) election without the knowledge, consent or authorization of the Management of the University.
Legon UTAG expressed serious reservation to the intrusion and condemned it as a blatant move to undermine academic freedom and the right of students to freely exercise their democratic choice.
It noted that any official of the University who may have granted an interview to suggest a justification of such intrusion by the National Security may have misspoken.
The Association called on the Minister for National Security to provide an explanation and proffer an unqualified apology for the infringement and warned it will not condone any similar intrusion in the future.
A statement issued by UG-UTAG noted that by the Basic Laws of the University, universities are entitled to enjoy some institutional autonomy, and their campuses are expected to be out of reach of security personnel, except when invited by the management of the universities themselves.
“To ensure law and order, public universities have their own security personnel, and can call on the regular security agencies for reinforcement when the need arises.”
“Article 14 of the Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility provides that “the State shall not deploy any military, paramilitary, security, intelligence, or any like forces within the premises and grounds of institutions of education.”
“It states that, where such deployment becomes necessary in protecting life and property, three key conditions must be satisfied. First, there should be a clear, present and imminent danger to life and property. Second, the head of the institution concerned must extend a written invitation to that effect. Third, such an invitation must be approved by an elected standing committee of the academic community set up on that behalf.”
“Clause 19 of the UNESCO Recommendations on the Status of Higher Education Personnel (1997) also stipulates that, “Member States are under an obligation to protect higher education institutions from threats to their autonomy coming from any source.” The instruments are considered as important pillars for upholding academic freedom in universities, which Ghana is obliged to respect, in line with the relevant provisions of the 1992 Constitution.,” the statement said.
The National Security, intrusion, it said, violates the rights of not only the students but academics and staff who together constitute the academic community.
The Association stressed that students have the right to conduct their elections and select those who must lead them, and the universities have their own internal security arrangements that competently oversee such processes.
It condemned the intrusion as an attack on academic freedom.
Source: Mypublisher24.com
