There have been a series of uproar by the majority of students in the nation's Premier University which was occasioned by the UGSRC election which was conducted in October this year which was followed by a runoff. The Judicial Council of the UGSRC received a petition for which Samuel Amos Ofosu, Nana B citing various degrees of irregularity. The petitioner prayed to the Council to cancel and nullify votes from Sarbah and Akuafo on the grounds of alleged ballot stuffing.
The court after hearing the case had established a prima face case against the issue and had accordingly annulled the votes from the two respective halls. They moved and directed further by ordering the Office of the UGSRC Electoral Commission to conduct a run-off election for those affected halls.
There have been many concerns raised by supporters of the y3y3dom team figuring or accusing the school administration and the MP behind the purported schemes to prevent the President-elect from being sworn in.
The aftermath of the declaration by the Judicial Council has witnessed many students unsatisfied with the ruling and threatened to embark on a series of demonstrations to revert the ruing of the Council. The students have accused the VC of her silence all this while, which they believe that her silence means cornered.
Facts, statistics, evidence, and proofs in court justified that, Prince Asumadu would have defeated Nana B, without any scintilla of doubts. Supporters and fanatics of Asumadu have registered their displeasure against the decision by the court for nullification and direction of online voting to be conducted by UGCS. They think that is a conduit for manipulation.
They have sensed possible hacking of the system in the future to favour the declared loser who after the cancellation is leading with 56 votes.
The students are sounding a clear message and warning to the school authorities that any attempt to subvert the will of the students would not be countenanced, and they will do everything meaningfully and lawfully to restore the will of the student and uphold the Constitution of UGSRC.
"Justice delayed is justice denied". The issue of the CJ Akpaloo being an adherent supporter of the declared loser Samuel Amos Ofosu has generated tension among students. An anomic pressure group called Alliance of Concerned Students of the University of Ghana had issued a communique indicating that students should rebuke the ruling of the court since no institution can set aside the declaration made by the EC. They went further by indicting the VC for setting up a committee without students representation.
This is an excerpt from the communique.
*Alliance of concerned Students of the University of Ghana.*
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*Students are to ignore the ruling of the so-called Judicial Board, there shall be no re-run of SRC elections*
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Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by a group of students chaired by a past student of the University community calling for the re-run of the 2021 UG SRC elections.
Let me indicate this clearly, that there shall be no re-run of any elections.
Master Prince Asumadu is the legally elected SRC President under the legal framework of our academic community.
We are aware of the scheme by the management of the university to cripple student governance by ensuring that they put their associates and cohorts to lead the student front at the discomfort of the entire student body.
We are also aware that, the Vice-Chancellor has already inaugurated two sensitive committees without any student representatives.
The committee for One student, one laptop was inaugurated at a time when the Dean and two former students who were acting SRC President and Chief Justice had decided to steal and cripple student governance.
Dear students of the university community, kindly are informed that no persons whatsoever are their capacity in the school will be able to change the results that were declared by the EC on 1st November 2021.
I have indicated time without number, that there are consequences to every decision, *the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean of Student Affairs, and illegitimate acting SRC President should be prepared for the consequences of their ill-thought-through planning. *
We are mobilizing the numbers, we will act forcefully and bloodily within the lawful framework of our land to resist this demonic scheme. Kindly be informed!
Yours truly
*Kwesi Atuahene*
Convener
There was the issue of breaching of the SRC constitution by the Petitioner, which caused the First and Second Respondent to seek a rejoinder and pleaded the Council to overthrow the case since it had surpassed the maximum 48 hours within which a petition should have been sent to the court.
However, the court denied and ruled against it stating reasons for examination and covid protocols.
There is imminent danger and threat if the runoff election does not go in favour of the declared winner. The school would be facing a lot of risks. This is going to bring violence which could lead to a possible loss of lives and property.
There have been suggestions that the leadership should intervene so that the election is conducted using the ballot when school resumes for the would-be 400's and 300's to go to the polls to decide. That will bring sanity or parity into the election. Security should be tightened during the day of the elections. The electoral commission has been advised to use the opportunity to pacify themselves.
There are similar cases of irregularities and disenfranchisement cases pending at the high court. The Southern Campus Diaspora Halls, Kwapong JCR election is a testament to the issue. Another case is at one of the Northern Campus Hostels.
Source: Walking Encyclopaedia 360.
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