Some students of the University of Ghana, Legon clashed today [Saturday] ahead of the school’s matriculation of freshmen for the 2016/2017 academic year.
The clashes were between students of Commonwealth hall and Mensah-Sarbah hall.
According to eyewitnesses, the clashes began when a member of Mensah-Sarbah was attacked by Commonwealth boys and this led to a retaliatory reaction from the Mensah-Sarbah camp.
Citi News’ Caleb Kudah further reported that the procession of some level 100 students to the Matriculation ground was ongoing when students began throwing stones.
According to Caleb, “commonwealth is accusing Sarbah of inviting ‘Katangas’ to reinforce their base in anticipation of a clash.”
“The commonwealth hall camp were clad in red while their arch rivals sarbah hall were clad in black. The two camps fired musketry amid chanting war songs. They also wielded broken seats, stones, slabs,” he added.
A vehicle was also set ablaze in the process.
Police and Fire service personnel eventually arrived on the scene, in front of Mensah-Sarbah hall, to calm tensions and prevent an escalation of the clashes.The fire in the burning car was also put out.
Commonwealth, Sarbah hall rivalry
There is a long standing rivalry between the two traditional halls which is demonstrated in sportsmanship and academics.
This however turns bitter and sometimes bloody on occasions like matriculation. Last year, similar attacks occured.
Credit: Caleb Kudah/Radio Univers