Mr. Kwame Yeboah, University Relations Officer in talks with section of the media in Kumasi
THE ESTIMATED cost of items destroyed by irate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi, during the recent riots has hit GH¢1.7 million.
The alarming figure may likely increase as the school is yet to establish the quantum of items the rampaging students looted from shops when law and order broke down totally in the university during the wild protests.
Kwame Yeboah, the University Relations Officer (URO), announced that an independent body has been engaged by the university to assess the damages caused by the students and they came out with GH¢1.7 million.
According to him, the destruction mainly took place in the halls and the administration block of the university, adding that the items destroyed included computers, electronic gadgets and decorated glasses that were smashed with stones.
Mr. Yeboah disclosed that items belonging to the government and some private people, mainly workers of the KNUST, were damaged by the rampaging students who had a field day during the demonstration.
He said vehicles, including those that belong to the university and some private people, also had their windscreens smashed with stones as the students, who had complained about maltreatment from the school authorities, went berserk.
Mr. Yeboah told the DAILY GUIDE during an interview at the KNUST campus on Wednesday morning that the university authorities have not yet decided on who would bear the cost of the destroyed items, adding that the university is still taking stock of items looted by the students.
Mr. Yeboah stated that KNUST staff that were unfortunately attacked and injured by the irate students during the wild demonstration are fit now and are ready to resume work when the school is eventually reopened.
He disclosed that the university is in the process of repairing some of the damaged items and offices in readiness for the early reopening of the school for the continuation of academic work.
According to him, security at the university is in place as a joint military/police team has taken over the protection of the school, assuring that normalcy has been restored.
Mr. Yeboah indicated also that the leadership of the university is presently in talks with the student leadership with regards to sustaining the law and order on the campus when the school is re-opened.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi