Chaos Erupts During University of Ghana General Assembly Elections

Chaos Erupts During University of Ghana General Assembly Elections

On Sunday, October 22, 2023, the General Assembly Elections at the University of Ghana took a chaotic turn. A video shared by Univers TV and witnessed by GhanaWeb captured the turbulent scene, where some University of Ghana students were embroiled in a brawl during the election.

The viral video depicted a tumultuous situation at Mensah Sarbah Hall, the election venue, where some students went as far as snatching the ballot box. The disruptive behavior extended to acts of violence, including assaults on individuals and the vandalization of tables and chairs used during the event. Consequently, the Electoral Commission (EC) had no choice but to suspend the election.

In a statement, the EC expressed concerns regarding the conduct of the SRC general secretary, which seemingly played a significant role in triggering the chaos. The statement pointed out that the general secretary’s actions threatened the independence of the EC by attempting to encroach upon its constitutional powers and duties in conducting elections.

“The General Secretary’s unconstitutional attempt to usurp the powers of the Electoral Commission caused tremendous tension in the House, and this is what has led the Commission to call off the election in the interest of peace, order, and tranquillity,” stated the EC, without providing specific details regarding the general secretary’s actions.

Meanwhile, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) strongly condemned the incident, describing it as disheartening. In their statement, the SRC’s Executive Council expressed deep regret and disappointment about the recent disruption during the scheduled election for the Speaker position. They acknowledged the chaos and acts of violence that resulted in harm to individuals and property damage, while also extending apologies to those affected. The SRC made it clear that it would not shield anyone found responsible for the disruption.

Video Update: Moment the ballot box was snatched away at the Mensah Sabbah Hall during the @Ug_src General Assembly elections, leading to the cancellation of the event. #UniversNews #UGIS75 pic.twitter.com/T0d2PWP83v

— Univers TV (@univers1057fm) October 23, 2023

General Assembly Disruption: @Ug_src strongly condemns the incident, labelling it as "disheartening."#UniversNews #UGIS75 pic.twitter.com/MqXYN0QHLM

— Univers TV (@univers1057fm) October 23, 2023

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