1. The Tertiary Education Institutions Network of the University of Ghana would like to express its resent, disdain and shock at Government’s decision to use the Jean Nelson hall of the University as a quarantine facility to house some 83 students thereabout who have been traced as contacts of persons tested positive for COVID-19.
2. We equally would like to vent our disappointment and displeasure at Management’s decision to allow for such a dangerous exercise to be carried at the Jean Nelson Hall which by a large extent pose a great risk to the residents of the Hall.
3. We acknowledge that we are in very trying times as a country and so it becomes fundamental to throw whatever resource there is to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The spontaneous nature of the outbreak in Ghana has rendered health facilities inadequate and our response tactics effortless.
4. In as much as we appreciate the urgency of the situation, it is utterly inconceivable to operationalize a student residence of the University of Ghana as a quarantine facility in our bid to contain the spread of the virus.
5. Negligently, the negative psychological and sociological effects of this decision on students have not been contemplated by government or it is either the government does not really care about the students of University of Ghana. It will be extremely difficult for students to go through this, many would have to consistently remind themselves the fact that their rooms and beds have been used for the lethal exercise.
6.Further more, the truncation of the academic semester shall be consequently prolonged than necessary should the virus be successfully contained. An occurrence, that will be disadvantageous to students of the University.
7. Instead, as part of improvising, we recommend to Government to operationalize the abandoned University of Ghana, Bank of Ghana, Maritime and the many other hospitals and CHP compounds across the breath of the country to compliment efforts and ease the excess stress on health infrastructure.
8. It will be exceptionally unwise and extremely detrimental for Government to politicize matters regarding our health by way of refusing to functionalize the afore specified health facilities in distressing times as this.
9. We call on Government and Management of the University with immediate effect to abort all activities at the Jean Nelson Hall and explore other avenues to effectively contain the virus. We also call on Mr. Isaac Agyemang the SRC President to be proactive in ensuring the safety of all students.
10. Finally, we want to assure students of our unreserved willingness and readiness to fight for their interest within this trying times. We also implore all students to keep to the safety measures and to take very good care of themselves.
…Signed…
Richard Boakye Yermoh
President.
📞0241681809
Issued by:
Raymond Edem Tamekloe
Dep. Communication Officer
📞0545819981
