JCR President of the Jubilee and International Students’ Hostel (JISH), William Otchere, has announced plans to initiate impeachment proceedings against the leadership of the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC) General Assembly, citing what he describes as a loss of credibility and a pattern of constitutional breaches.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive on Radio Univers, Otchere stated that Sunday evening’s GA meeting was marred by procedural irregularities. He claimed the House had lost credibility from its very first sitting and vowed to dedicate his time and energy to removing the current leadership.
“We cannot sit and watch people use the highest decision-making body for their benefit,” he said. “The House has lost credibility right from the first sitting, and I’m going to dedicate my time and energy to impeach them.”
Otchere pointed to major discrepancies in the previous semester’s statement of accounts presented by the UGSRC Treasurer. He also raised concerns about financial accountability and described the recent approval of the second-semester budget as rushed and lacking adequate scrutiny. Most notably, he accused the GA leadership of suppressing members’ right to free speech, suggesting a disregard for democratic principles within the Assembly.
In response, Speaker of the UGSRC General Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kelvin Yeboah strongly denied the allegations. In an exclusive interview with Radio Univers, he insisted that all proceedings under his leadership have adhered strictly to the UGSRC constitution.
“The leadership of the House would like to state that everything we did was constitutional. Some of the problems we face as a General Assembly are emotional. This is a political setting, and there are individuals with their political affiliations who want to push their agenda.”
He dismissed claims that his actions were driven by personal interest and maintained that any impeachment attempt must go through the appropriate legal channels.
“Anyone who wants to undertake an impeachment process has the right to. However, it will go to the Judicial Board, where constitutional matters will be addressed,” he noted.
The unfolding standoff sets the stage for a contentious period within the UGSRC, as both sides remain firm in their positions, indicating that heated debates and possible legal challenges lie ahead for the student leadership body.
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Story by Sophia Okang | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Michelle Lartey
