By D.I. Laary
Accra, March 20, GNA – Mr. Jephthah Agyei, a presidential candidate of the Students’ Representative Council of the Central University for the 2024/2025 academic year, emphasized the vital role of student leadership and the need for immediate steps to safeguard the principles of self-governance.
According to him, the SRC’s autonomy, enshrined in its constitution, is fundamental to addressing concerns of students and ensuring a collaborative and inclusive campus environment.
Despite constitutional amendments in 2021, a number of students continue to express growing discontent over what some perceive as undue interference by management in SRC’s affairs.
Mr. Agyei, a disqualified SRC presidential aspirant, voiced his strong disapproval about the development, questioning the timing of management’s intervention.
He, along with other students, cited several instances of alleged overreach, pointing out one prominent example involving “imposition of the previous Dean’s will on vetting procedures,” where established SRC rules were allegedly disregarded.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, Mr. Jephthah Agyei, a presidential candidate of the SRC in the 2024/2025 academic year.
Despite constitutional amendments in 2021, numerous students continue to express growing discontent over what some perceive as undue interference by management in SRC affairs.
Mr. Agyei, a disqualified SRC presidential aspirant, voiced his strong disapproval about the development, questioning the timing of management’s intervention.
He, along with other students, cited several instances of alleged overreach, pointing out one prominent example involving “imposition of the previous Dean’s will on vetting procedures,” where established SRC rules were allegedly disregarded.
Growing misunderstanding among students at Central University over allegations of the institution’s management’s “disturbing trend of arbitrary and capricious interference” in student affairs have highlighted concerns over the autonomy of their Student Representative Council (SRC).
At the heart of the dispute is the perceived erosion of the SRC’s constitutionally enshrined autonomy.
According to Article two of the SRC Constitution, the body is designed to be an independent entity, free from external control in matters of internal governance.
Mr. Foster Awusah, a Level 500 Architecture student, recounted a specific incident where the Dean of Students abruptly halted a vetting process, claiming disagreement with the scheduled date.
Mr. Vincent Henneh, the Chief Justice of the SRC, echoed these sentiments in his ruling in a petition case, asserting that management’s actions exceeded constitutional boundaries and deviated from established disciplinary procedures.
He also pointed to the “deafening silence surrounding allegations against other aspirants,” raising concerns about impartiality and fairness.
“In this context, Petitioner’s statement in paragraph 77 that “…it would be a shame to this court, its advocates and our entire student’s governance if we fail to fairly dispense justice and have to be redirected by the school authorities” represents a direct challenge to the constitutional framework established by Article 89.
“An attempt to circumvent the proper judicial process by threatening external intervention; a concerning misunderstanding or deliberate misrepresentation of constitutional principles by a law student advocate.” he quoted from a recent Judicial Council ruling.
GNA
DL/BM