A directive to deny continuing students of the Commonwealth Hall at the University of Ghana access to the hall is still in place. The University of Ghana (UG) implemented a residential policy that required continuing students of Commonwealth Hall and male students of Mensah Sarbah Hall to be sent to other campus residences. Due to the new order, some Commonwealth Hall students have been stuck outside the hall premises from the first day of reopening for students [Thursday, January 12th, 2023]. Campus security has been increased to prevent the impacted pupils from occupying the hall. Some stranded students on campus from Commonwealth Hall, usually referred to as Vandals, who spoke to Happy FM’s / Etv.Ghana’s Joseph Nii Ankrah said
"We came here, and the school's security told us we couldn't enter the hall. I've been here since the 12th of January with my bags and other belongings. I'm not sure where they want us to go. "I'm going to sleep under the tree today," one of the irritated returning students declared. remarked another stranded student. "They have given me another hall which is more expensive, my parents cannot afford the fee. Lectures started today, January 16th, and I was scheduled to go, but I couldn't because I don't have anyplace to stay or keep my possessions. "I'm depressed and freaked out about the whole thing." On January 6, 2023, eight angry Commonwealth Hall students obtained an interlocutory injunction preventing UG management from adopting the new residence policy and requiring the school to revert to the status quo before to the policy's introduction. However, UG management maintained that the decision had taken effect long before the injunction was obtained, suggesting that about 83% of Commonwealth Hall students had agreed and accepted placement to other university-provided housing facilities. However, on Thursday, January 12, 2023, some continuing students arrived on campus to find a significant security presence blocking their access to the traditional hall. The regulations, which went into force at the start of the 2022 academic year, were designed to avoid future incidents of violence between Commonwealth Hall and Mensah Sarbah Hall students. Continuing Commonwealth Hall students and male Mensah Sarbah Hall students are not permitted to return to their halls or any of the conventional halls. Rather, students were assigned at random to available rooms in the UGEL hostels on campus. This provision exempts continuing female students in Mensah Sarbah Hall and students with special needs in both halls. Also from the 2022/2023 academic year, only Level 100 and graduate students (Masters and PhD level) will be assigned to Mensah Sarbah and Commonwealth Halls and subsequently, undergraduate students will vacate the halls at the end of Level 100 and could secure accommodation in the private hostels from Level 200 until completion. For Level 100 students who opt for traditional halls, they will be randomly assigned to the halls and progressively, all the traditional halls (Mensah Sarbah, Commonwealth, Volta, Legon and Akuafo halls) will be reserved for Level 100 and graduate students only, culminating into a full in-out-out-out policy by 2025/2026. To improve upon security on campus, the university council said it was installing CCTV cameras and Electronic Access control systems in all halls.
