Dirty Politics Among Students; A Disgrace To The Whole Concept Of Education

Most often we criticize leaders and political office holders for their indulgence in unhealthy politics and corrupt practices, yet we fail to identify its genesis, and that accounts for our inability to eradicate corruption from our societies. Charity they say begins at home and as such you don’t expect a person who has been socialized in a corrupt setting to grow into a saint, and so would you not expect a dishonest student leader to become a patriotic leader in future. The concept of education is to equip people to meet future needs, correct past mistakes in order to make living comfortable. It then becomes a shame when students at the tertiary level who are expected to view politics as a competition of ideas begin to sabotage and dent the hard earned image of their counterparts just for political gains and points.

For some days now, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC)of the University of Ghana, has been in the media for alleged malfeasance of over GH₵16,000.00 in the payment of dues and other monies to the University Students’ Association of Ghana(USAG). This allegation was leveled against the SRC, especially the President, Mr. Daniel Otting Awuah popularly known as Levels by one Mr. Daniel Obeng, former financial controller of USAG. According to Mr. Obeng, the SRC constitutionally is required to pay some annual dues to USAG and below are the details he claims are to be paid and what was paid by the SRC; 0.50pesewas per student in each institution

And a capitation fee of GH₵250.00 to be paid for a delegation of 35 students. And below is a calculation of what he claims was expected to be paid;

USAG Capitation: GH₵250.00×35 delegates=GH₵8,750.00

USAG dues: GH₵ 0.50× 20,000 students=GH₵10,000.

Mr. Obeng alleged that the President of the SRC paid money into unknown USAG accounts other than the account named: University Students’ Association of Ghana(USAG), with account number:3610121999815.

Total = GH₵18,750. Hence according to him, the SRC was to pay GH₵18,750, however Mr. Obeng asserted that information reaching him proves that, the SRC President inflated the amount as required and took an amount of GH₵25,000.00, by increasing the USAG dues from 0.50pesewas to GH₵1.00. This he says is unconstitutional and tantamount to impeachment. This was a summary of the petition by Mr. Obeng to the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dean of Students, Chief Justice of the SRC judicial board, the entire student body and on social media platforms.

Is it not sinister for someone to make such dubious claims against people based on information reaching them without any investigation? Can it not be said to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish one’s image on the basis of hear-say by spreading unproved rumor without listening to the story of the affected side.

To distinguish the truth from the projected lie, let’s tackle the made accusation with the USAG constitution as a guide.

To begin with, Mr. Obeng accused the President of inflating dues from 0.50pesewas to GH₵1.00, however, chapter Six of the USAG constitution on Finance in Article 50(1) states that; annual dues as determined by NEC shall be paid by members and sent to the USAG consolidated fund by the local SRC’s of member institutions. This portion of the USAG constitution makes it crystal clear that, there is no stipulated fee to be charged and that the decision on the amount to be charged as dues is the sole responsibility of the National Executive Committee of USAG. Moreover, a letter issued by the Former USAG President and Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng Frimpong and Mr. Sefa Boakye Alex respectively on the 3rd of August 2017 mandated the SRC to pay dues of GH₵1.00 per student as that was the decision arrived by NEC. This case is confirmed by the President of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, His Excellency David Dannah as he made same payment. I wonder then where Mr. Obeng had his facts from, I urge him to read more before making such defamatory claims.

Secondly, the Petitioner also stated that USAG congress expected a delegation of 35 students at its Congress in Tamale at a cost of GH₵250.00 per head, making a total of GH₵ 8,750.00 but the SRC reported to the General Assembly that they paid GH₵10,000.00 as capitation for 40 delegates. This allegation also exposes the ignorance of Mr. Obeng and his thirst to dent the image of the UG-SRC as the same letter issued by USAG on the 3rd of August 2017 also specified the SRC brings a delegate of 35 students to its congress, alongside 5 observers making the total number of people 40. The SRC was asked to pay a fee of GH₵250.00 for each of the 40 students.

Thirdly, Mr. Obeng furthered accused the SRC President of making payment to unknown USAG accounts, however receipts shown by the SRC indicates that payments were made to the account name: University Student of Ghana(USAG), with account number:3610121999815. So the question then is, Mr. Obeng how different or strange is this account number from the one you stated early. On this note, Mr. Accuser, from where did you get your facts? and if it’s a game of sabotage and downplay, then be reminded that, any man who valued himself successful on basis of initiating the fall of another is not a failure but failure.

Mr. Nuertey.