The University of Ghana’s management has refuted allegations that it disobeyed a court order to enforce its new residential policy for the 2022/2023 academic year. The University clarified that the court order was issued after the policy had already been implemented for the academic year. Therefore, the management stopped accepting new applicants into the hall after receiving the injunction. Additionally, the University stated that it had filed an appeal against the injunction and requested a stay of execution of the same.
The University expressed concern about comments made by Members of Parliament regarding the new UG residential policy. The University clarified that it had not flouted any court order and denied the allegations made on the floor of Parliament on March 29, 2023. The University stated that it had stopped further assignments to Commonwealth Hall following the order of injunction, and new students assigned were already in residence by that time. Furthermore, continuing students who were previously residents in Commonwealth Hall were given the opportunity to reapply for available rooms in another hall, and about 91% of those students accepted the offer and paid for their new residencies.
The University’s response followed a joint statement by Dr. Clement Apaak and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor on the floor of Parliament on March 29, 2023.
The University’s management denied the allegations of disrespecting a court order and clarified that the implementation of the new residential policy had been done before the court issued the order of injunction. The University further stated that students who had difficulty paying were provided support through the University’s Student Financial Aid Office.
The Old Vandals Association’s Parliamentary caucus also criticized the University of Ghana’s continued refusal to reinstate affected students to Commonwealth Hall. Some continuing students of Commonwealth Hall had sued the University over its new residential policy that had forced them out of the hall. The affected students obtained a court injunction to prevent the management from enforcing the policy.