NUGS statement on the Legon Official ban on Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF GHANA STUDENTS (NUGS) ON THE BANNING OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS ON LEGON CAMPUSES

Legon Officials Must Respect Student Political Rights The National Officers of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) have chanced on a circular dated 15 May, 2012 signed by Mr. J. M. Budu, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Legon that sought to place a ban on all forms of Political activities on all “university campuses”.

NUGS agrees with the University Officials in their effort to ensure that, the university structures are not soiled indiscriminately with posters of political parties and competing candidates as was witnessed in the country’s General Elections of 2008.

We also think that, in order not to disrupt public peace and general academic atmosphere on campus, the campaigns of the Political Parties and competing Parliamentary candidates ought to be regulated. The Union believes that, when the activities of Political Parties are properly regulated on campus, the “academic environment of the University is (will) not (be) compromised through undesirable actions, including unnecessary noise-making, violent behavior and messing up the environment with trash”.

However, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is not in support of the ban on open air rallies, congresses, or conventions which will afford the intelligent students the opportunity to interrogate thoroughly policies, manifestoes and program outlines of the various Political Parties which is important in the grand re-making of the nation’s President and Parliamentarians come Friday, 7 December, 2012.

It is also worth repeating to the Legon Officials that, when it comes to deciding who the Parliamentarian of the Ayawaso West Wugon becomes, the University of Ghana, Legon community plays one such a huge role and they must not lose sight of this fact. The Union therefore calls on the University of Ghana Officials to be considerate in their policies/directives and rather encourage students to be peaceful and make a wise decision in the December polls.

Thank you.

Signed:

Austin Brako-Powers (Press & Information Secretary-NUGS)

Tel: 0242 628164

Released on Thursday, 21 June, 2012