Student leaders of the Navrongo campus of the University for Development Studies are angry over the alleged manhandling of the SRC shuttle driver, Atuley Emmanuel.
Atuley Emmanuel was reported to have been severely attacked by taxi drivers operating in the Navrongo Township.
Citi News checks discovered that taxi drivers operating in Navrongo Township made several attempts to stop the SRC shuttle bus from operating in the area.
They argued that the SRC shuttle has, since its introduction poached their customers.
Speaking to Citi News, General Assembly Speaker of the SRC of Navrongo campus of UDS, Kamal Hassan said the taxi drivers recently vandalized the shuttle and mercilessly beat the driver, Atuley Emmanuel.
“This current onslaught happens to be the second attack on the shuttle driver unlawfully; when the SRC bought the shuttle, a consensus was mutually agreed by the taxi drivers leaders as well as the SRC explicitly asseverating the conditions under which the shuttle will operate but these drivers have persistently despoiled the agreement trying to prevent the shuttle from operating.”
He said as law abiding citizens, the students’ leadership has always followed the agreement reached by the two parties.
Kamal Hassan accused the police of failing to apprehend the perpetrators after they lodged several official complaints with the Navrongo police command.
“When the incident was reported to the police all they could say was “go and settle the matter with these drivers”. This assertion defeated the purpose of the service which has been clearly stated in the 1992 constitution of the republic of Ghana, Chapter 15, Article 200, clause 3, which is performing the traditional role of maintaining Law and Order.”
He fumed, “Till now, no single arrest has been made and the police seem not to worry about the whole situation, this further gives credence for the perpetrators to continue their manhandling of students.”
He said the action of the taxi drivers has kept the students in fear. “This panic has made it difficult and unsafe for students to move freely from campus to Navrongo Township, specifically with the shuttle and hence hindering academic excellence.”
Hassan Kamal called for government’s immediate attention to save the SRC leadership from being lynched by the taxi drivers.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana