Educationist and Deputy Editor of the Teacher Education Journal, Daniel Fenyi has opined that students’ leaders are likely to be victimized by the school management due to different political affiliations.
He was speaking to UniversNews, on the effect of national politics on students’ elections.
This comes on the back of the President of the University of Ghana Students Representative Council, Martin Boakye Gyasi openly declaring his support to the Former Minister of Trade and Industry, John Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, during his filing of nomination forms for the NPP Presidential Candidate.
According to Daniel Fenyi, some lecturers and school management tend to discriminate against students who are actively engaged in opposing politics.
“If you are unfortunate and you come across some of these lecturers who are so consumed with their political affiliations, sometimes they tend to victimize the student in politics. Sometimes it even goes beyond the lecturer to school management. The school managements is connected to some political parties or activities and so when they realize that [a student leader] is affiliated to a political party, the school management may tend to victimize.”
Meanwhile, Head of Department and Associate Professor of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. Seidu Alidu revealed that victimization due to political affiliations is illegal.
“Constitutionally, you are allowed to [have political opinions] but sometimes what you say can lead to people who don’t belong to your political group or ideology to want to undermine you or make life difficult for you. And when they do, they do not directly link your victimization to the fact that you made a political statement that they were happy with. Because that is not legal.”
He however advised individuals who feel victimized to seek legal redress.
According to him, every individual is constitutionally free to be associated with any political party approved by the law.
“If [students] realize that they are being victimized on the basis of their political affiliations or association or alignmen, they have the right to go to court. Because the 1992 constitution guarantees everyone the freedom to associate freely with political parties and other liked minded associations that is legally allowed by the constitution to operate.”
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Story by | Frederick Kunzote-Ani | univers.ug.edu.gh
