A concerned student from the University of Ghana Accra City Campus (UGACC) has lamented over what he describes as constant unfair treatment from Management.
This follows the disqualification of Michael Kwapong Kissiedu, a former candidate for an executive position in the Prof. Alexander Adum Kwapong Hall Junior Common Room on the basis of his status as a member of Accra City Campus.
In a petition addressed to the Office of Electoral Commission of Alexander Adum Kwapong Hall dated June 23, 2023, Dennis Akyea Asante Emmanuel, who was also a candidate for an executive position in the hall’s JCR requested for the disqualification of Michael Kwapong Kissiedu.
In the said letter, he noted that the aspirant was unqualified to run for JCR position according to the University of Ghana Basic Laws which states categorically that a member of Accra City Campus cannot be a legal member of any of the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL) hall hence, a breach to the laws of the University.
The petition, which was also later addressed to the Office of The Dean of Students’ Affairs noted that;
“…upon a true and proper interpretation of the JCR constitution, a student’s campus of affiliation, cannot be a reason to warrant their disqualification from a JCR elections in Alexander Adum Kwapong Hall.”
Subsequently, the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs released a notice on June 26, 2023, to disqualify Michael Kwapong from contesting in the JCR elections and calling for electoral processes to be opened for nominations.
A concerned student, Kingsley Anwona Kwaw has petitioned the Office of the Pro- Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs to bring clarity to to the stance of members of Accra City Campus in running for various Junior Common Room Elections.
He described the act as discriminatory, as he noted how it was contrary to the University’s laws.
“The disqualification of Accra City Campus students from contesting for any Hall of residence and UGSRC offices is contrary to Section 29 of the University of Ghana Act 2010 (Act 806) which prohibits discrimination against any member of the University Community.”
Kingsley Kwaw further urged the university’s management to provide accommodation for students of Accra City Campus.
“If management knows Accra City campus [students] will not be allowed to attain residential status on campus, then they might as well just shut City Campus down because students cannot come from afar to come looking for a place to stay in Accra.”
He further called on Management and the University of Ghana Student’s Representative Council to work assiduously to amend sections of the constitution to clarify the status of members of Accra City Campus, their benefits and entitlement.
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Story by | Fafa Melody Kportufe | univers.ug.edu.gh
