BY ISSAH OLEGOR
Tension erupted at the Techiman-Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) in the Bono East Region after police arrested students and two journalists during a demonstration over what protesters described as worsening welfare conditions and alleged administrative mismanagement at the institution.
What began as a peaceful march through the streets of Techiman quickly descended into chaos when police attempted to disperse the demonstrators, leading to confrontations, arrests and reports of warning gunshots as frightened students fled the scene.
The protest, organised by students of the nursing and midwifery training college, centered on demands for the immediate removal of the school’s Principal, Helen Gifty Dwamena Amoah, whom the students accused of poor leadership, unfair treatment and failing to address long-standing challenges affecting academic life and student welfare.
The police arrested at least two student leaders and two journalists who were covering the demonstration. The arrests have sparked criticism from media practitioners and civil society groups, who questioned why journalists reporting on a public protest were detained.
Students Cite Water Crisis and Lack of Teaching
The students said they had exhausted internal avenues to have their concerns addressed before deciding to embark on the demonstration.
Among their major grievances was the reported lack of access to clean and potable drinking water on campus, a situation they said had exposed students to difficult living conditions.
They also alleged that despite resuming school about a month earlier, academic lectures had virtually not taken place, leaving students worried about delays to their training and academic calendar.
According to the protesters, these issues reflected deeper leadership challenges within the institution and justified their demand for the removal of the Principal.
Petition Details Raise More Allegations
The demonstration followed the submission of a petition to the Techiman North District Directorate of Education outlining several additional complaints against the school’s administration.
In the petition, the students alleged that breakfast had been cancelled, forcing many to begin academic activities on empty stomachs. They further claimed that meals had allegedly been reduced from three per day to one, with lunch sometimes served as late as 4:00 p.m. and supper around 9:00 p.m.
The petition also alleged that students were being compelled to make additional payments for utilities and sanitation services despite those charges already forming part of their approved school fees.
Students further claimed that academic materials and essential training equipment—including uniforms, textbooks, breast watches, thermometers, blood pressure apparatuses and name tags—for which they had already paid had not been supplied.
They additionally alleged that management had restricted access to the school’s online student portal, making it impossible for some students to verify examination results, while others claimed they had been demoted to lower academic levels without adequate explanation or due process.
Peaceful March Turns Violent
Eyewitnesses said the protest initially proceeded peacefully, with police officers escorting the students through parts of Techiman to ensure public order.
However, the atmosphere reportedly changed after police intervened to disperse the crowd.
Students alleged that security personnel became aggressive during the operation, while eyewitnesses reported hearing warning gunshots as police sought to restore order.
The confrontation resulted in the arrest of student leaders and two journalists covering the unfolding events.
The circumstances surrounding the arrests have generated concern among press freedom advocates, particularly regarding the detention of media personnel performing their professional duties.
Heavy Security Deployed
Following the disturbances, the Techiman Divisional Police Command deployed additional security personnel to the campus to prevent further unrest.
The increased police presence remains part of efforts to maintain law and order while authorities assess the security situation.
Academic activities at the college were also reportedly disrupted by the protest and its aftermath.
