Step down for elections to be held- Adum Richard to Afrane Pious

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CAMPUS RADIO GHANA    21/03/2018 

Step down for elections to be held- Adum Richard to Afrane Pious

Student activism in the University of Health and Allied Sciences is gradually taking a different stride as students are increasingly becoming concerned with the affairs of the SRC and are keen on the constitution that governs them. 

The new face in the student struggle for accountable and transparent governance is one Richard Adum of the School of Public Health of the University. In a petition letter addressed to the Chief Justice, His Lordship Edmund  Gyan of the UHAS SRC Court, the petitioner stated certain clauses of the constitution that have been breached hence, calling for immediate action to be taken to avert the anomaly. 

With reference to the UHAS SRC Constitution, Chapter six (6), Article 37, Clause 2, it states that "The election of the executive officers shall be on the terms, of secret popular vote and shall, subject to the provisions of this constitution, be conducted in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by Constitutional Instrument issued by the Electoral Commission. In pursuit of this, nominations shall be opened and appropriate forms made available in the third (3rd) week after the beginning of the second semester in an academic year for both provincial and federate executives and voting done in the 7th week of that same semester. In the event of failure to elect an Executive Officer, under the Constitution, clause (8) of article (33) of this constitution shall apply until such a time as elections are held to elect the said Executive Officer(s)". 

The latter clause, Chapter Five (5) Clause (8) of Article (33) of the same SRC Constitution says;

"(8) (a) In the event of the removal from office en-block of the Executive Officers under this article, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall nominate and/or appoint:

(i). One of the JCR presidents of the halls of residence as acting SRC President;

(ii). One of the JCR Secretaries as Acting SRC Secretary, provided that such a secretary shall not be appointed from the same JCR as shall be appointed from under (a) of this clause. 

(iii). The Chairperson of the Finance Committee as Acting Treasurer of the SRC for Federate level, and the leader of the finance committee of the SRC of the campus on which the impeachment is done as the acting SRC Treasurer for that campus. 

(b) Officers so appointed under (a) of this clause shall constitute the Acting Executive Officers of the SRC as pertain to the respective substantive offices as provided for in this constitution. 

(c). For the avoidance of doubt, (b) of this clause shall apply in the failure in the event of a failure to elect Executive Officers under this Constitution, subject to article (37) clause (2)".

With regards to the above clauses outlined by the petitioner, he has prayed the UHAS SRC Court to act with immediate alacrity because time is passing swiftly adding that, the semester is almost entering the tenth (10th) week to witness the appointment of the acting officers until election is conducted. 

Meanwhile, the SRC/Local NUGS general elections has been scheduled for Friday, 23rd March, 2018 after it has been postponed twice already. 

By: Angmortey Kwabena Raphael 

(Campus Radio Ghana)