Students of Tamale Technical University (TaTU) staged a large protest on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, that began as a peaceful march but escalated into violent clashes with security forces after officers moved in to disperse the crowd.
Dozens were reported injured after police used water cannon, rubber bullets and warning shots while some students burnt tyres and hurled stones in reaction.
What sparked the protest
According to student leaders and multiple media accounts, the demonstration was triggered by a combination of grievances: a proposed and, students say, unjustified increase in school fees; alleged misappropriation and lack of transparency in the university’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF); withheld SRC (Students’ Representative Council) funds; poor campus infrastructure and sanitation despite levies; withheld certificates for some graduates; and the closure of satellite campuses. Students also complained that SRC and GRASAG representatives had been removed from the fees-fixing committee, which they say undermines accountability.
How the day unfolded
Students marched from their hostels toward the administration block carrying placards reading messages such as “Fix TaTU Now”, “Director of Finance Must Go” and “Fix Our Hostel”. The protest started peacefully but tensions rose after management and the fees-fixing committee failed to reach an agreement in a meeting the previous day.
When police deployed to maintain order, officers reportedly used water cannon and fired warning shots; witnesses say some students responded by throwing stones and setting tyres ablaze, which further escalated the confrontation. Several students and a number of police officers sustained injuries and were taken for treatment.
Casualties and immediate response
Different outlets put the injured at anywhere from a handful to “scores,” with several students treated at the university hospital and some police officers also reported injured. The Northern Regional Police Command said order had been restored and that a temporary deployment remained on campus to prevent a recurrence.
University management initially did not release a full statement to the press, but student leaders said they had filed petitions including a request for a forensic audit with relevant oversight bodies over alleged financial irregularities.
Students’ demands and calls for accountability
Student leadership (SRC and GRASAG) set out a clear list of demands: reversal or suspension of the proposed fee hikes until an independent audit is conducted; immediate release of withheld SRC funds and withheld certificates; reopening of closed satellite campuses; improved sanitation and hostel facilities; and a formal forensic audit of the university’s IGF and hostel revenues covering several years.
GRASAG leaders publicly called for the Ministry of Education to commission an audit by a reputable firm (students suggested firms such as KPMG) to restore confidence.
Police and authorities’ positions
The Ghana Police Service issued statements saying officers were deployed to protect lives and property after protesters blocked roads and set tyres on fire; they also said personnel came under attack from some demonstrators.
The police said they managed to bring the situation under control and that no school property was destroyed, while also confirming some injuries among students and officers. A temporary police deployment remained on site as a precautionary measure.
Wider reactions
The confrontation has drawn reactions from political and youth groups. Opposition youth wings and local civic actors condemned what they described (in some statements) as heavy-handed police tactics and urged dialogue.
Student unions are demanding an independent probe and have threatened further escalations, including petitions to the Ministry of Education and anti-corruption agencies, if their demands are not addressed. Media and civic commentators have framed the incident as part of a broader problem of accountability in tertiary institutions where students pay levies that do not appear to translate into visible improvements.
Context: why this matters
The TaTU protest points to a recurring fault line in Ghanaian tertiary education: students face rising costs at a time when many institutions are accused of poor service delivery and opaque financial management.
Where fees, levies and IGF are perceived not to produce proportional benefits (like improved hostels, lecture halls, sanitation and timely certification), student frustration can quickly translate into public demonstrations.
The involvement of security forces and the resulting injuries raise questions about protest-management protocols on campuses and the need for better, transparent channels for resolving disputes.
What to watch next
Whether the Ministry of Education or the university council will commission an independent forensic audit into TaTU’s IGF and fee utilization as students demand.
Whether the university and student leaders will agree to an emergency dialogue to defuse tensions and secure the release of withheld funds or certificates.
Possible disciplinary or legal outcomes if EOCO (the Economic and Organised Crime Office) or other oversight bodies pick up the petition for investigation.
