Human rights and freedoms in the administration of the University of Cape Coast: Experiences of students and administrators

Abstract

The study investigated perceptions and experiences of administrators and students on human rights and freedoms in the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The research questions provided a framework for this study while the Cultural Reproduction and Structural Violence theory offered useful theoretical frames for understanding social justice and human rights in higher education in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative research design, using the case study approach to examine, understand, explore and interpret the human rights and freedoms situation in the UCC. Thirty students and 10 administrators from the University were purposively selected for interview. The data collected consisted of personal notes on observation, interviews, and institutional documents. Inductive analysis process was used to make explicit specific statements and themes. The study showed that the administration of the University has shown great commitment to the application of the principles of human rights and freedoms but some traces of structural violence have been transferred from society into the University. It recommends the establishment of human rights centre to handle human rights complaints and promote respect for human rights in the University of Cape Coast as well as in the larger community.