Calm has returned to the OLA College of Education in Cape Coast after sandwich students of the University of Cape Coast protested last night over welfare issues, which they say, was affecting their studies.
The students Tuesday night staged a protest against the authorities of the Ola College because they had failed to provide water and security on campus as well as the non functioning of electricity sockets in all dormitories.
According to them, the Students Representative Council is being crippled in the delivery of its mandate due to its inability to access funds from its account because of the regular absence of the College’s principal, who is signatory of the account.
Tuesday’s protest caused the principal of the College to lock herself up in her office for fear of being attacked, TV3’s Thomas Cann reported.
No property was destroyed and arrest made in the peaceful protest which attracted police from the Central Regional Police Command to the campus to maintain law and order, he added.
But authorities of the University of Cape Coast have since Tuesday night intervene, restoring a peaceful atmosphere on campus Wednesday morning, the SRC President for the sandwich students, Issaku A. Jabumi told 3News.
“Everything is calm now,” he said.
He said although there were some welfare issues lingering, the shortage of water since Saturday and the authorities failure to fulfill their promise on that triggered Tuesday’s protest.
Mr Jabumi told 3News that they reported to campus three weeks ago to find that all electrical sockets in the dormitories were not functioning, noting “you can’t iron or charge phone. Some lights are not working.”
He claimed although the issues were reported to the authorities, they always get the feedback that the principal who will act on it is not available; something they said was becoming too much for them.
For instance he said one of the pipes connecting to the water pump that supplies water to College burst last Saturday and assurance by authorities to fix it by close of Tuesday failed, and that coupled with other failures on the part of authorities sparked the protest.
“She [principal] is signatory to the SRC account and has not been around most of the time so whenever they need the money the principal is not around,”
Mr Jabumi also claimed there are no security personnel at night, noting that people have had their personal effects stolen as a result.
“There are instances that we’ve had to chase people; on three occasions. Where they happen to come from is very dark. The street lights there are not working,” he said.
He told 3News authorities of the Cape Coast University have intervened and the issues were being addressed.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3network.com|Ghana
Twitter @steviekgh_TV3