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The University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG), the umbrella body representing over 300,000 students from both public and private universities across the country, has been engulfed in electoral disputes over its leadership elections. These challenges have led to repeated postponements of its annual congress, creating uncertainty about the future of the association’s governance.
USAG’s electoral troubles began during its initial congress, held at the Obuasi campus of KNUST. Scheduled to run for three days and culminate in the election of new leaders on September 2, 2024, the congress was abruptly called off due to allegations of election irregularities. Concerns were particularly raised about the role of the USAG President, Patrick Kusi Adu, in the election process. These concerns led to heightened tensions, making it impossible to proceed with a credible election.
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In response, a new date was set for an emergency congress at the Methodist University branch in Tema. However, this too ended in chaos as significant electoral flaws emerged. Notable among them were the misplacement of images and names of candidates on the ballots, including Doris Ansomaah (a USAG presidential candidate) and Felicia Ankomah (a candidate for USAG IDRS). These discrepancies, brought to light by the affected candidates and other stakeholders, undermined the election’s integrity, forcing its cancellation for the second time.
To resolve these recurring challenges, a third congress was scheduled for November 21, 2024, at the Islamic College in Adentan. However, this attempt also faced logistical setbacks. The USAG Electoral Commission announced that the Electoral Commission of Ghana, citing preparations for the upcoming national elections, was unable to provide essential materials, such as ballot boxes. With these resources unavailable, the election had to be postponed once again, with January 2025 proposed as the next potential date.
Adding to the turmoil, an interim injunction was filed by USAG presidential candidate Ahmed Mumuni Amadu and the USAG International and Diaspora Relations Secretary, Rueben Appiah. The injunction sought to restrain the USAG President, Patrick Kusi Adu, and his Chief of Staff, Ezekiel Sagoe, from conducting any further elections. According to the court order, both individuals, along with the entire USAG executive team, are prohibited from performing executive functions or holding themselves out as executives of USAG until the case is resolved. The court’s directive, valid for 10 days, underscores the legal complexities surrounding USAG’s leadership crisis and raises significant concerns about the association’s ability to conduct free and fair elections in the near future.
As USAG grapples with these repeated electoral setbacks and the legal constraints imposed by the injunction, the future of the association remains uncertain. Stakeholders and the student body are calling for swift and decisive action to restore order and credibility to the electoral process, ensuring that the association can fulfill its mandate to represent the interests of students across Ghana.
