Management of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) has suspended indefinitely the 2022/2023 elections of the executives of the Students Representative Council (SRC) and Local National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).
The development was an outcome of a crunch meeting by the management on Monday, following a planned massive demonstration by the students in view of some election irregularities that led to disqualification of some candidates.
A team of police personnel had to be deployed to the campus to foil the demonstration, planned since last week.
The heavy presence of the police, perhaps put some fear of God in the students who then resorted to a news conference at a nearby spot in Asuoyeboah.
A statement on the suspension noted that the process leading to the elections have coincided with the end of second semester examinations which start on September 26.
Signed by the Acting Registrar, Michael Kofi Adu, it said such incidents had the tendency of disrupting the peaceful atmosphere that would support students preparation toward the conduct of the impending examinations.
According to the statement there had been several petitions on the process of the elections which required attention and consideration “but the end of semester examinations take precedence over all scheduled students’ activities and should therefore be prioritised”.
It gave the assurance that appropriate steps would be taken to assist in scheduling a resumption of the electoral activities.
A visit to the campus yesterday, saw the team of the police still on campus, counting about two riot control vehicles.
Activities seemed to return to normal as the students were shifting attention to the impending end of semester examinations.
Among the concerns of the students were the delay of release of their examination results which are used as a prerequisite for candidature for the electoral process.
They accused the vetting committee of election malpractices and urged the management to address the grievances rather than intimidating them with the presence of the police.
This comes barely two weeks after the Governing Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has stated that any student who participates in the organisation of what is described as ‘morale’ and/or ‘procession’, shall be summarily dismissed.
According to the University, with effect from the 2023/2024 Academic Year, the Junior Common Room (JCR) System of Hall Management by students, has also been abolished.
Similarly, Hall Week and SRC Week Celebrations on campus have also been suspended.
A statement signed by the Registrar/Secretary to the Council of the University, Mr A.K. Boateng said, “Council of the University at an Emergency Meeting held on Friday, August 26, 2022, among others, discussed the Report of a Fact-Finding Committee, constituted by the Executive Committee of the University, following the recent disturbances arising from the Hall Week Celebrations of the University Hall.”
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
