The University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) has described the rustication of 22 students of the University of Cape Coast over student clashes as 'Trokosi' justice.
At least, three students were stabbed at UCC in March 2017, when a clash erupted between some enraged students of the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, who had been invited to the school campus for a hall week  celebration.
After investigations, the school's authorities rusticated the affected students, mostly executives of ATL and organizers of the hall week celebration for periods ranging from two semesters, to four semesters.
 “The following students have with effect from the second semester of the 2016/2017 academic year been rusticated from the University for the periods indicated against their names for roles played in the Disturbances at the Oguaa Hall on Friday, 17th March, 2017, during the 2017 ATLANTIC HALL WEEK celebrationsâ€, authorities stated in a rustication notice published last week.
In a statement on Wednesday however, USAG said the authorities at UCC were punishing a few people for the sins of many because they had failed to conduct any proper investigations.
According to USAG, "after retrospectively reviewing the timeline of events, assessing reports, appealing to the facts, [it] believes the decision to rusticate 22 Atlantic hall students as a desperate managerial manoeuvre. Justice must be served by looking at the bigger picture of things and conducting proper investigations to bring the right perpetrators to book"
"We feel very saddened by this act of miscarriage of justice where people are held responsible for the sins/ crimes of others. This only happens in TROKOSI! Consequently, by that logic, anyone who goes to an open casket funeral is a murderer and firemen are arsonists. This is unjust justice!", the statement added.
The group, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh to "develop an active interest in the issue and take a stance with the association against this classic case of misguided justice".
The Cape Coast High Court on Tuesday granted an interim injunction filed by lawyer of the some suspended Students of University of Cape Coast.
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Below is USAG's statement:
USAG understands, as an inevitable gesture of justice, the necessity for management of University of Cape Coast in engineering sanctions to safeguard vital laws that are the very bloodline on which the university environment operates.
With the alarmingly persistent cases of hooliganism and clashes being recorded in most tertiary institutions, USAG well comprehends that by implementation of severe sanctions against authors involved.
We as an Association supports fully any legitimate actions to manage conflicts and defuse tensions which is a vital variable in ensuring a balance in the ecosystem of Ghana’s college campuses.
Nonetheless, while USAG is sympathetic to such course, the association will have to take a firm stance against the decision which it considers rather narrow, ill –informed and a downright failure of the test of allegiance to good justice carried out by management of UCC.
Could it be any more wrong to punish a selected few for the crimes perpetrated by a lot?
We feel very saddened by this act of miscarriage of justice where people are held responsible for the sins/ crimes of others. This only happens in TROKOSI! Consequently by that logic, anyone who goes to an open casket funeral is a murderer and firemen are arsonists. This is unjust justice!
After retrospectively reviewing the timeline of events, assessing reports, appealing to the facts, USAG believes the decision to rusticate 22 Atlantic hall students as a desperate managerial manoeuvre. Justice must be served by looking at the bigger picture of things and conducting proper investigations to bring the right perpetrators to book.
Albeit understanding but not endorsing the rationale behind the sanctions, we are of the firm view that the motive behind the rustication may be right but the method is wrong.
USAG therefore by this press release is calling on School authorities to reconsider their decision whilst a more comprehensive and collaborative investigation is done into the matter to bring the real perpetrators to book.
As recent events unfolds in the University of Cape Coast, USAG wishes to humbly call on the Minister of Education to develop an active interest in the issue and take a stance with the association against this classic case of misguided justice.
We assure all students of UCC and the great nation of Ghana that USAG, established to protect the interests of students will not fall short of its duties. We will work tirelessly to correct this act injustice to take an inspiring leap towards unadulterated justice and fairness.
USAG continues to give vision and focus to the student movement in general and University students in particular, with the view to improving the quality of education to promote personal and National development.
God bless the student Movement.
God bless Ghana
Signed©
Emmanuel Kwame Agyemang Daakyehene
IIRS-USAG
0279966909
Emmanuel Kwarteng Frimpong.
President-USAG