All 18 individuals arrested over the weekend near Mensah Sarbah Hall at the University of Ghana have been released, according to Deputy Director of Operations at the university’s Safety and Security Services Directorate, Seidu Iddrisu.
In a follow-up interview on Campus Exclusive on Radio Univers, Mr. Iddrisu revealed that the group was released on Sunday evening after being granted bail, in line with legal requirements that prevent detaining individuals for more than 24 hours without charge.
”They were released on Sunday evening. We arrested them and by the law, you cannot detain somebody for more than 24 hours. So it’s either you charge the person to court or you grant the person bail. There was no crime committed because they didn’t destroy anything. So you can’t charge them with any offence.”
He noted that the police collected information from those arrested and are compiling a report at the request of the various universities involved, allowing the institutions to take internal disciplinary action.
The deputy director stressed that the incident did not involve a clash between halls, but stemmed from individuals engaged in inappropriate behavior,” including nudity and disruption during the university’s congregation ceremonies.
“This is a highly recognized university, and some practices should not be tolerated. People were lining up on the streets, going naked. That cannot be allowed.”
Mr. Iddrisu described the arrests as “friendly,” but warned that future incidents may be handled more aggressively if students continue to defy university rules.
“Next time, it will not be a friendly arrest. We will go in hard. And we don’t want that situation to arise,” he cautioned.
He reiterated that although the University of Ghana is a public space, it is governed by rules, including the ongoing suspension of unsanctioned student gatherings.
“You can’t just gather and do whatever you like. The Jubilee House is a public place too, but you can’t walk in and misbehave. Same applies here,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu urged student leaders to act responsibly and ensure all activities are officially approved, warning that failure to comply could trigger more severe responses from campus security.
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Story by Michelle Lartey|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Wahab Abdul Razak
