The 2024 UGSRC elections are in turmoil due to allegations of interference by the Dean of Student Affairs, raising integrity concerns.
In a letter dated August 2, the UGSRC Electoral Commission highlighted these concerns, pointing to administrative decisions that contradict protocols and security advisories.
Initially set for July 30, the vetting of aspirants was postponed to August 11 due to security concerns from 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.
The UGSRC EC vehemently objected to the Dean’s suggestion in a July 24, 2024 meeting to ignore specific parts of the SRC Constitution, citing the significance of following all legal procedures.
The office of the Dean of Student Affairs should maintain objectivity and refrain from getting involved in student politics, according to the Electoral Commission, which maintains that such meddling cannot be tolerated.
In closing, the Electoral Commission stated that it would not submit to anything it considered to be a betrayal of its mandate—that is, the undermining of legal procedures in the name of resolving imaginary issues.
Background
The UGSRC Electoral Commission initially set the 2024 election vetting for July 26, with results on July 29. Financial constraints delayed vetting to July 30, then August 11, due to Legon Police unavailability. On August 1, the Dean of Student Affairs ordered vetting on August 2 at 10 a.m. The Commission formed a vetting committee, but the vetting didn’t occur as the committee was prepared for the August 11 date per the police’s suggestion.
