Students of the University of Ghana have condemned the defacing of the Gandhi statue on the campus of the institution.
Most students who spoke to Pulse.com.gh said even though they supported the movement calling for the removal of the statue defacing the statue was not the best.
One student who gave his name as Sitsofe said “this is not the best way. They should just wait for the authorities to do their job.”
A colleague of his Lazarus who supports the Gandhi must fall movement said “it’s a wrong practice but it’s been long since we heard that there’s a petition but I’ve not seen any action yet. At least this will prompt them that we need this thing out of the school.”
But Bernice a second-year student who also supports the removal of the statue it was not morally right to take off the eyeglasses of the statue. But she was quick to add that the perpetrators may be doing this gradually till they get the entire statue removed.
“Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. So if they start by taking glasses and later on his walking stick, little by little the statue will be gone. If everything is supposed to go they should take the statue of not just his glasses.”
Academics at the University of Ghana are demanding a statue of “racist” Gandhi be pulled down.
Professor of African and Gender Studies at the University of Ghana, Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Dr Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, and Dr Ọbádélé Kambon, a research fellow and Editor-in-Chief of the Ghana Journal of Linguistics wrote the petition.
The online petition is addressed to the members of the University of Ghana Council and the chairman Kwamena Ahwoi.
The statue was erected on June 14 this year at the recreational quadrangle; it was donated by India’s president Pranab Mukherjee when he visited the campus.
Since then there has been agitation from many students, alumni and Ghanaians over the statue being on campus.
On Tuesday (October 4, 2016), it was realised that the statue has been defaced in the cover of darkness on Monday. No group or individual has taken responsibility for the action yet, but it is believed that this was done by some supporters of the Gandhi Must Fall movement.
Here are some students of the University of Ghana speaking to Pulse.com.gh