The 2024 University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC) elections have been marred by allegations of interference from the Dean of Student Affairs, raising concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.
In a letter addressed to the Dean of Student Affairs on August 2, the Electoral Commission of the UGSRC formally recorded its concerns.
The controversy stems from administrative decisions that appear to contradict established protocols and security advisories.
Initially, the vetting of aspirants was scheduled for July 30, 2024, but was postponed to August 11, 2024, due to security concerns raised by the Vice Dean of Students, Dr. Charles Wiafe Akenten, based on advice from the Ghana Police Service and University Security.
However, the Dean of Student Affairs later mandated that the vetting be conducted within 24 hours of a meeting held on August 1, effectively disregarding the previous security advice.
A statement released by the EC’s Public Relations Officer, Mudasir Braimah, highlighted several issues:
- The abrupt rescheduling led to conflicts, as committee members had planned for the August 11 date, preventing some from attending the newly scheduled vetting.
- The Dean allegedly ignored suggestions from the Electoral Commission and prioritised aspirants’ views during subsequent meetings.
- There is growing concern that the Dean’s actions suggest a vested interest in certain candidates, potentially compromising the vetting process’s integrity.
In a meeting held on July 24, 2024, the Dean reportedly suggested disregarding certain articles of the SRC Constitution, a notion firmly rejected by the UGSRC EC, which stated the importance of adhering to all legal processes.
The Electoral Commission insists that such interference cannot be condoned and stresses that the office of the Dean of Student Affairs should remain impartial and avoid involvement in student politics.
The Electoral Commission concluded its letter by expressing its determination not to consent to what it perceives as an undermining of lawful processes under the guise of solving non-existent problems, thereby betraying its mandate.
Background
The UGSRC Electoral Commission had initially released a roadmap for the 2024 elections, with the vetting of applicants scheduled for July 26, 2024, and results expected on July 29.
However, these processes did not occur as planned due to unforeseen financial constraints faced by the Commission.
The vetting was first postponed to July 30, 2024, and then again to August 11, 2024, due to the unavailability of the Legon Police.
Following this, the Dean of Student Affairs directed the Commission on August 1, 2024, to proceed with the vetting process on August 2 at 10 a.m.
The Commission complied by forming a vetting committee and communicating this to the student body, but the vetting did not take place as the committee members were only prepared for the August 11 date based on the Legon Police’s suggestion.
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