Managing all demonstrations demands tact especially those which degenerate into misconduct and involve the youth.
While we do not intend to mar the quality of the ongoing investigations into the scene created when students of the Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi hit the streets to protest the rampant knockdowns in front of their school, we shall be quick to point out that what happened was unwarranted and the heavy handedness in which the situation was brought under control leaves much to be desired.
The circumstances under which the riotous conduct happened are for now known only to eyewitnesses, all others only relying on second hand information and speculation.
It is for this reason that we welcome the investigations into the riotous demonstration which for us, should determine whether or not the outcome could have been avoided.
The element of the school authorities calling the police to restore order is also critical in the investigations. The suggestion that the situation was beyond the school authorities points at a level of weakness on their part and perhaps a student-body on the verge of unruliness.
That stated, the incessant knockdowns should not be condoned more so since the students have complained about it and rightly so. When situations demand attention and the relevant authorities do not respond accordingly, we end up having to stare at us nasty outcomes.
We have learnt that following the demonstrations and the matters arising, rumbling stripes have been fixed on the road. So why do our knowledgeable engineers ignore such important interventions on roads where pedestrian traffic especially nears schools is heavy?
The subject under review should teach such road engineers important lessons.
We cannot ignore the level of misconduct on the part of the students which compelled the school authorities to call in the police, who too, arrived at the scene with perhaps perceived notion about a deteriorated situation.
We condemn the manner in which the students went about to vent their frustrations and counsel them to always be mindful about taking the law into their own hands. Blocking a road will definitely create inconveniences for motorists and therefore, not in their favour.
A successful management of a riotous situation lies in the avoidance of broken limbs and the destruction of property. This is an important factor law enforcement should bear in mind.
On this score, we do not intend heaping plaudits on the law enforcement personnel who responded to the deteriorated situation involving the closure of a road for close to an hour.
We also discovered that most of the victims of the teargas throwing were girls and wonder just why those charged with bringing the situation under control could avoid the outcome which is now a subject of public opprobrium.