KATANGA PRESENT PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT

Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have for the purpose of providing sufficient intern accommodation for female students taken a bold decision to convert two male halls into mixed halls. The two halls to be converted are Unity Hall(CONTI) and the University Hall popularly known as 'Katanga'. From the university's decision, it is to provide accommodation for more female students in the university therefore the move to change the male halls into mixed ones. However, mixed reactions greeted authority when the decision was officially announced to students that the unity hall and Katanga, strictly male halls will be altered into mixed halls beginning next academic year. This announcement has caused some students to threaten to go on demonstration if the decision taken by authorities is not rescinded. The University authority are bent to making the mixed hall happen so today the University Hall and Unity Hall (KATANENTALS) took to the street of Accra to demonstrate against the university decision. They presented a petition to the President of the Land which was received on his behalf by the Chairman of council of State. Below is the written copy of the petition.

*THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, HIS EXCELLENCY NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFFO ADDO*

*THE CHANCELLOR OF THE KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST ), HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OTUMFOUR OSEI TUTU II*

*THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE FOR THE KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST), SIR PROFESSOR EMERITUS KWAME SARPONG*

We, the undergraduate students, alumni and associates of the University Hall (KATANGA) in the KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST ) write to your high office, being mindful of our rights as citizens ( not spectators ) and as encapsulated in the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana that we "the people " adopted to be governed ourselves.

Article 25 (1) of the constitution states that _"All persons shall have the right to equal educational opportunities and facilities and with a view to achieving the full realisation of that right to basic education shall be free, compulsory and available to all; secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational_ _education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular, by the progressive _introduction of free education; higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, _and in particular, by progressive introduction of free education; functional literacy shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible; the_ _development of a system of schools with adequate facilities at all levels shall be actively pursued"_


We believe that our inalienable rights under 25 (1) is in the grave danger of being trampled upon by the Vice Chancellor and authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in the quest to alter the identity, tradition and culture of KATANGA into mixed Hall, supposedly to make room for the admission of more female students to the University, is extremely short -sighted and bound to fail. Such an act would have dire consequences for students, alumni, and associates of KATANGA and for the tertiary education at large, and should not be allowed to occur without further analysis and recommendations.

For decade, KNUST has suffered from neglect and mismanagement, with respect to residential facilities. Currently, less than a quarter of students are housed in on-campus accommodation. The notion that displacing a few males in KATANGA for the benefit of a handful of females is the solution to the acute accommodation crises is extremely short-sighted at best.

By this petition, we are requesting you order a stay of the proposal to convert KATANGA to a mixed gender Hall until the following have been achieved.""

The above is the petition the Students of the University Hall (KATANGA ) of the KNUST presented to His Excellency NANA ADDO -DANKWA AKUFFO -ADDO, the president of the Republic of Ghana, to be considered.
Reporter : GENERAL