Legon Vandals Resist Girls

Commonwealth Hall (Vandal City)is a famous hall in the University of Ghana, Legon


By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday May 4, 2010
From all indications, there is going to be fierce resistance from residents of the Commonwealth Hall (Vandals) of the University of Ghana with the decision by the university’s authorities to turn it into a mixed hall for graduate students.

The hall has over the past 54 years served as an all-male hall, but the Executive Committee of the university issued a directive at the weekend that with effect from the 2010/2011 academic year which commences in August, the Commonwealth Hall would no longer be a single sex hall.

The decision follows series of rowdy conducts by vandal, with particular reference to the heckling of the Former United Nations (UN) Secretary General and Chancellor of the University, Kofi Annan.

When the Daily Guide visited the Vandal City on Saturday, it was visible that the students were not enthused about the decision and were bent on resisting it.

A source told the Daily Guide that since news broke that the hall was to admit female students; residents had been having series of meetings to strategise to kick against the decision.

They intend to organize a news conference by Tuesday over the issue and follow it up with what they call a “massive demonstration”, a source said.

The Daily Guide learnt that the leadership of the hall had already gone to serve the police with documents on their intended demonstration.

It would be recalled that during the university’s congregation on March 13, 2010, some students of the Commonwealth Hall, nearly disrupted the event by allegedly heckling former the UN boss, some officials of the university and other dignitaries.

The students heckled the former UN Secretary General and chanted songs in his face and he reportedly suffered the unpleasant experience along with invited guests and parents of graduands.

A news release on March 23, 2010 which followed the incident and signed by J.M. Boadu, Registrar of the university had said “management would like to assure the university community, the alumni, and the general public that steps are currently being taken, to deal decisively with the culprits, and others whose actions tend to subvert good order and discipline, thereby tarnishing the good name of the premier university.”

The release condemned what it called “the students’ unruly behaviour” and said “it tarnished the image of the university”.

The release said “the Vice-Chancellor has since sent an official apology to the Chancellor and former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, assuring him that the university will spare no effort in identifying and applying disciplinary sanctions to those involved,” adding “the Vice Chancellor’s letter assured the Chancellor that the university would take decisive steps to ensure that the unfortunate incident does not recur.”

Later on the Hall Council and the old Vandals Association of the Commonwealth Hall also condemned the act and apologised to Mr. Annan.

Media reports has it that not satisfied with the apologies, the Executive Committee of the University, after discussing the issue, found it necessary to convert the hall into a mixed hall for graduate students, as a means of forestalling any further embarrassing occurrences.

A senior tutor of the hall, Dr. Edzada, on Friday told Citifmonline that the entire student body of the university has been accordingly informed about the decision and disclosed that the Commonwealth Hall Council was yet to receive any formal information from the Executive Committee of the university, saying “the whole University community has been informed that the hall will be turned into a graduate hall from next academic year, for male and female.”

Already, some old students of the hall have also expressed shock at the decision to convert the hall into a mixed hall.

A former Chief Vandal of the Hall, now a Legal Practitioner and Managing Editor of Ghanaian Observer, Egbert Faibille, told Citi FM that he is shocked about the development.

"I think that this is a very sad decision and I am very surprised," he stated. He said even though he did not support the heckling of the Former UN Boss and the constant unruly behavior of students, it would have been appropriate for the University authority to consult the alumni since they were also stakeholders.

Egbert. Faibille further explained that transforming the Commonwealth Hall was not the only solution to deal with indiscipline which is found in almost in every human institution.

He however called for calm on the part of the present students of the hall and urged the leaders of the hall to ensure that the right things are done.

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