TELLING THE NUGS STORY - PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2016 CONGRESS (FINAL PART OF THE FULL STORY)

 

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN WRITES…

As I promised at the end of the part 1, in this part, I shall let you into some of the negatives of the Hohoe congress as well as the conduct of some individuals that is worth mentioning. Enjoy the read:

WERE THERE ISSUES WITH THE NUGS ELECTIONS?

Yes, there were issues with the elections; just as there has always been issues with every NUGS elections in recent past.  One particular electoral malpractice that characterized the elections is the issue of top-ups, where people who are not necessarily delegates or students, participated in the polls. Some people, mainly Ewes were bused by the “political caucus” ostensibly to come and vote for their own. The aspirants were left with no option but to also campaign to these “foreigners”, otherwise known as top-ups. It got to a time, where the more an aspirant could speak the Ewe language, the more popular he/she became. 

Those who could not speak Ewe, had to quickly get some “Ewe students” to lead their campaign for that night. This spectacle to me, was so shameful but hey! there was very little anybody could do to arrest the situation. Again, the failure of the EC to make the voters register available to all the candidates on time, is an issue that is worth bemoaning. Admittedly, this issue, which gives birth to the top-up syndrome, has been associated with every NUGS elections; even though the NUGS constitution, precisely Article 73 frowns on same. It is however instructive to note that even Ghana’s electoral commission does not respect this particular provision in our electoral laws to the latter. So, even as I condemn this practice, it would be hypocritical on my part to say that it is peculiar to NUGS and in particular, the Hohoe congress. 

I am somewhat disappointed in my good friend and brother, Frank Amoakohene and his team for some of their “reprehensible actions”. You guys were very critical of the EC for failing to provide you with the voters register, 6 hours to the polls and that was legitimate. You went to the NUGS court to INJUNCT the whole elections because of this issue. The court DECLINED this request because the electoral process had already begun but the court granted you your second relief by ordering the EC to immediately provide you with the register. Immediately you returned from the court room, by which time, the register was ready [this, I can confirm because I saw it], you never went for it; instead, you wrote to the EC claiming you were pulling out of the race because of this very issue. 

So, if you knew you didn’t need the voters register and that, you were going to pull out of the race anyway, why did you waste the court’s time and every persons’? You guys definitely acted in bad faith under the circumstances. Maybe you need to read the electoral laws of Ghana once again. A candidate CANNOT pull out of a race when all is set for the elections to kick start. I am therefore not surprised that the EC Chair, didn’t grant you your wish. I know the grounds or what we call, the odds were not favourable to you, but I expected you to act with some finesse. 

And you are now saying the whole congress/election is a sham? And that, Julian M. Cobbinah (Ascorbic) is an imposter of a NUGS President Elect? Like seriously? I guess you would have still said that if you won the elections. Well, now that some people have made us to believe that, one does not need the blessing of congress or to win an election to become a NUGS president, I think you can also take a cue from that and organize a press conference to declare yourself as the “legitimate NUGS President Elect” in order to complete the JOKE of the century. Aren’t the students of Ghana tired of you guys?

I don’t want to believe you were behind that fake release, purportedly emanating from NAHSAG, because all the NAHSAG executives including your “boy”, the NAHSAG president, participated in the NUGS congress from start to end; so they certainly couldn’t have issued a statement dissociating themselves from the congress. My brother, Frank, you are a great guy, who has all it takes to lead NUGS and I have no doubt that you would be one of the finest materials to serve as NUGS President.  Please your post-election actions would determine if you would ever have the opportunity to lead this Union. Remember you are a medical student and still have some years ahead of you, which qualifies you to contest for the presidency next year and beyond. A word to a wise.  

Moving forward, as a way of dealing with the top-up syndrome, I suggest NUGS must adopt a new ELECTORAL REGIME, where it would be made mandatory for leaders of delegation to present their delegates list on the first or second day of congress. Again, NUGS should take a cue from PUSAG, where each institution must pay capitation for all their delegates before they are qualified to vote. So if an institution came to congress with say, 25 delegates but paid capitation for only 10 delegates, only the 10 delegates would enjoy all the congress courtesies including the right to vote. 

Last but not least, NUGS does not have to wait for all the blocs under the Union to hold their congresses before that of the Union. This is the reason why NUGS congress of late, goes beyond August or September, by which time, all the Universities would have reopened from the long vacation, leading to difficulties in securing a venue. 

ELORM MAWULI, THE ILLEGAL GUPS PRESIDENT AND HIS EMBARRASSING ISSUES 

If you read Article 52 of the GUPS constitution, you would understand why I’m referring to that chap as illegal GUPS president. This Article clearly states that, “GUPS Handing Over-Ceremony SHALL take place within four (4) weeks after congress [my emphasis]”. As we speak, it is getting to 7 weeks after the GUPS congress was held and still Elorm doesn’t want to handover. All attempts by the incoming GUPS executives as well as the Union’s patron, Professor Joshua Alabi to get Elorm to discharge this constitutional duty, have so far, proven futile. Maybe he hasn’t finished enjoying the GUPS swag. I understand he is being compelled to do that tomorrow. I can only hope he doesn’t disappoint again.  

I used to respect this guy and uphold him in high esteem, to the extent of writing thesis, sometime ago, in his honour but now, I’m afraid he has lost it. He started losing it when some of the aspirants in this year’s GUPS congress brought his complaint to me, about some of his action, which I don’t wish to regurgitate here. He continued to lose it with his gross inconsistencies regarding the decision on the venue for the 2016 NUGS congress. And he finally lost it at the congress ground. Now watch this; 

Elorm Mawuli actively participates in the NUGS congress at Hohoe, he MCs the opening ceremony, takes part in the central committee meeting, nominates one Lamisi, the outgoing GUPS sectary to be part of the Electoral Commission (she later became the EC’s secretary). Yet, this same Elorm guy leaves the congress ground on the final day, gets home, and shockingly decides to issue a statement, with the caption, “GUPS DISSOCIATES ITSELF FROM THE TWO NUGS CONGRESSES”. 

Don’t you agree with me that somebody needs a checkup here? Elorm’s agenda was simple; he came to the congress ground with a gentleman by name, Noel Nutsugah, who had just returned from the United Kingdom (UK) with some heavy British Pounds, whom he (Elorm) wanted to impose on NUGS to be our GETfund Rep. And when this attempt failed, he became very agitated and left the congress ground in indignation. Money is indeed the cause of all evil.

Yes, I was very instrumental in ensuring that he didn’t succeed with this mischief in the interest of justice and to uphold the constitution of NUGS. It all started when the electoral commission invited Noel Nutsugah to present his manifesto as a candidate for the position of NUGS Rep at GETFund. This development threw some of us into tantrums as we went ballistic in vehement protest on the grounds that, the GETFund position, which was initially opened, was later closed after the Ministry of Education wrote to NUGS and informed the Union that the current GETFund Board, which has 4-year mandate was only inaugurated in February, 2016. In view of this, the would-be aspirants who initially bought the Nomination Forms for this position had to reconsider their decision. 

Some had their money refunded to them. In view of this, NO candidate was vetted for GETFund position and this is evidenced in the vetting committee’s report which was presented and approved by Central Committee (CC). Angered by this decision, Noel Nutsugah and his “boy”, Elorm proceeded to “threaten” some of the NUGS executives especially the President to necessarily make him the GETFund Rep. 

This was where I became so disappointed in the NUGS President, the Vetting Committee Chairman in particular (Mr. Sampson Targoe) and some NEC members for acquiescing to his demands and claimed to have reopened the GETFund nomination after the official DISSOLUTION of CC, which Noel took advantage of. However, this turned out to be a contrived lie meant to impose this chap on NUGS. Constitutionally, this was an impossibility. Sensing foul-play, I then petitioned the NUGS court on behalf of my client, Roland Djan Kwafo Jnr. to annul his candidature. The court unanimously upheld our claims but at second instance.

When Elorm, at this juncture, realized that he had failed his godfather (Noel), he left the court room angrily accusing the NUGS President, who was also in court as a respondent, of betrayal. Immediately he came out and chanced upon the NUGS treasurer (Yusuf Ali), he started visiting physical assault on him demanding for the release of all monies he was owed (per him claims). But for the timely intervention of the Police, who used their SHOCKERS to restrain this “violent man” and whisked him away, the situation would have been bloody. 

This was how this Elorm guy embarrassed himself, his institution and GUPS for that matter. Upon his release, he then issued that hogwash of a statement, claiming to be dissociating GUPS from NUGS and making some incredulous allegations against the person of the NUGS President. I expect all the GUPS member institutions to rise up to the occasion and call this chap to order. He wants to destroy the Union before handing-over and he must not be allowed to succeed. GUPS is a professional association and must, at all-time, be seen to be acting as such.  

All in all, I am swimming in the pool of confidence that our detractors would do all their antics, they would try to destroy the image of the Union because they could not get their wish, but in the final analysis, NUGS would triumph and witness a REJUVENATED ARMY that would be COMBATIVE to student opposition and ultimately, RESPONSIVE to the concerns of Ghanaian students INSHA ALLAH.  

Assalamu alaikum

This piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and MINDS for the love of God and country.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

Youth Activist/Student Activist

Former NUGS Secretary

(0245335197)

TELLING THE NUGS STORY - PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2016 CONGRESS (PART 1 OF THE FULL STORY)

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN WRITES….

After all the huggermugger regarding the organization of this year’s NUGS congress, which was occasioned, largely by people’s mischief, it is quite refreshing to note that the congress eventually came off successfully. Student leaders including SRC/LNUGS executives of member institutions comprising delegates, observers and indeed stakeholders across the country stormed the St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, one of the venues duly approved by the Union’s Second Highest Decision Making Body (Central Committee), between Wednesday and Sunday, October 5 and 9 respectively. I must say that, the attendance was overwhelming contrary to my expectation following the issues that heralded the buildup to the congress. 

IS NUGS DIVIDED?

Anyone who claims that NUGS is divided is not only a JOKER, but one, whose faculties need serious examination and reexamination. Yes, it is indeed true that there was an attempt to divide the Union with a certain “Ideal thing”, but it is also true that, that attempt FAILED BIG TIME and has become the JOKE of town. I doff my hat for the students of Ghana especially the SRC/LNUGS executives of almost all the institutions under NUGS for reaffirming their decision at the last CC meeting and respecting the constitutional structures of NUGS including the NUGS Court by attending the one and only legitimate CONGRESS at Hohoe. But was there any NUGS congress anywhere? A big NO. 

What we saw, is essentially a gathering of families and friends, numbering about 50, who converged at a certain classroom near Ideal College in Madina-Accra, deceiving themselves that they were holding congress of a certain NUGS, and sharing the NUGS positions among themselves. I thank God that not even a single SRC attended that sham, which turned out to be an award winning fiasco. If you wanted to be a national officer of NUGS, you only needed to be present at that gathering and your dream would be realized just like that. Don’t you love these guys? hahahaha

No opening ceremony, no buying of nomination forms, no vetting, no vetting results, no regard to a lot of the entrenched provisions in the NUGS constitution and established conventions, no quorum, no central committee meeting, no NEC meeting, no residential congress, no audit report, no financial statement, no campaign, no manifesto reading, no delegates, no dues, no electoral commission, no elections, and yet, they were able to produce national officers, all within a day… why don’t you clap hands for them…I’m sure this would go into the Guinness Book of Records as one of the wonders of the World.   

  

The last time I checked, not even a toilet prefect position or Class Rep position could be gotten just like that. And here, we are talking about national executive positions of NUGS, which is the largest student organization in the country and indeed the embodiment of all the students of Ghana. This is how low these guys have sought to reduce our Mother Association to. They are seeking to insult the intelligence of all the students of Ghana. Okay, they said they were able to invite a certain “gullible journalist” from TV 3, who came and covered their gathering and therefore that makes everything CREDIBLE. Hahaha I laugh enter MahamaFord. 

They are by this, telling us that, all that one needs to produce national officers of NUGS, is to get a classroom, invite your student friends and family members, share all the 10 NUGS positions amongst yourselves and invite a journalist to cover the whole exercise. What a wow! If this is all that one needs in order to divide NUGS and produce national executives, then I’m sure some of us, who have a lot media friends and student followers can produce as many as 1 million different sets of NUGS executives within a month or two. 

I’m sure they are aware that TV 3 has rendered an apology to NUGS when they realized that they were initially misled. In fact, the station sent their reporters the following day to the St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, where the 2016 NUGS congress was being observed. They covered every proceeding on that day, including the central committee meeting, where vetting results were declared, the formation of electoral commission, presidential address on the state of the union, a press conference among several other congress activities. The TV 3 crew also spoke to some of the SRC Presidents, who did not mince words in unleashing their disgust and outrage at the station for the misleading reportage. 

Those who fiercely kicked against the holding of the congress at Hohoe in the V/R alleged that the organizers had mischievous intentions of disqualifying all centre-right student politicians vying for the various positions. This was the reason why they insisted that the congress be held in Accra, which they claimed is a neutral ground. However, the outcome of the elections rather showed that all the centre-right aspirants that participated in the Hohoe congress including my “darling boy”, Akwasi Agyemang, Betty Adwoa, Isaac Nyame and Nana Yeboah won their respective positions handsomely as general secretary elect, wocom elect, IRS elect and PnP secretary elect respectively. So those cynics have all been put to shame. 

One thing that is clear from the outcome of the NUGS elections is that, the student union (NUGS) has been taken away from the political caucuses and handed over to the student caucuses and that really fascinates me very much. Again, the ten executive positions that were grabbed shows clearly that the next NUGS administration would be almost evenly representative of the two “student persuasions” we have in the country. Certainly a 6-4 dispensation cannot be said to be a totalitarian takeover by either side. So moving forward, I can see a REJUVENATED ARMY that would occupy our national student front and champion the student cause. It certainly cannot get better…

I am waiting for that moment when somebody would tell me NOT to recognize nor support my guy, Akwasi Agyemang (who has come to complete the good works I’d started before exiting the general secretary position), and the rest of the competent executives ELECTED at the just ended NUGS congress and we shall see. The person may as well pick a gun and shoot at me. In fact, I am pledging my unflinching support for them and would do everything possible to make their administration a SUCCESS for the love of God and NUGS. 

I have very little sympathy for those aspirants who threw all the wise counsel and caution to the pigs and decided to attend the so called “Ideal college congress”. They wasted their time campaigning across the country, they wasted their money and other resources they had pumped into their campaigns, they disappointed their supporters. They sacrificed their lectures and work for absolutely NOTHING. My greatest disappointed is with #SayItRight, Financial Charles and PK Ania, all of whom, have campaigned very well and could have easily won their respective positions if they came to the congress at Hohoe. But hey! why should anyone sympathize with them? After all, the stubborn housefly that refuses to listen to counsel would always be buried together with the corpse. 

END OF PART 1

Make a date with me, tomorrow for the Part 2, which promises to be more revealing. In the second part, which also happens to be the final part, I shall talk about the negatives of the Hohoe congress and make a number of recommendations moving forward. I shall also occupy the roles played by some identifiable individuals including the “outgoing GUPS President”, Elorm Mawuli and Frank Amoakohene. Stay tuned…

Assalamu alaikum

This piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and MINDS for the love of God and country.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

Youth Activist/Student Activist

Former NUGS Secretary

(0245335197)

GOODWILL MESSAGE IN HONOUR OF ALHAJI DR. MAHAMOUD BAWUMIA

 

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN'S FOLDER 

 Where everyone is crawling, you are sitting; where everyone is sitting, you are standing; where everyone is standing, you are outstanding and where everyone is outstanding, you become the STANDARD for measuring performance. Where others see challenges, you see opportunities and where they see opportunities, you see and manifest successes. What others cannot see, you are able to see and what they see in future, you foresee now with your clairvoyance. It is therefore not surprising that they call you a prophet. You are undoubtedly, not just a blessing to the NPP, but Ghana, Africa, the World and indeed this generation as well as the unborn.

You contributed significantly towards the transformation of Ghana’s economy when you had the opportunity with your award winning exploits at the Bank of Ghana. You replicated this enviable feat in other African countries and in Europe. Your introduction into Ghana’s political scene in 2007 by Nana Akufo Addo would go in the annals of Ghana’s history as one of the most popular political decisions. On countless occasions, you shame your critics, both within and outside your political tradition. Any attempt made by your detractors to malign and vilify you, ends up becoming a monumental blessing to you. 

You have, time without number, been vindicated in all your prophesies on Ghana’s economy despite the vitriolic repudiation and cynicism that same was met with; as well as the malignant attacks slapped on you by the babies with sharp teeth. Among several others, mention can be made of your prophesy that the NDC government would take Ghana back to the IMF by 2015 due to their reckless borrowing, your revelation about the faulty methodology used in the computation of inflationary figures; which was later corroborated by the IMF, your postulation that the Bank of Ghana’s prescriptions on how to arrest our fast depreciating cedi during the acute exchange rate volatilities. 

I can go on and on and on but still cannot finish because the list is INEXHAUSTIBLE. In fact, I am yet to see a single prediction or forecast you have made about the Ghanaian economy which hasn’t materialized. No wonder the business community, to a large extent, depends on some of your economic projections in drawing their business plan. In fact, some industry players who attended your latest lecture at the national theatre on the state of the Ghanaian economy confirmed this assertion to some media houses.

Politically, you are the reason why the NDC can no longer claim to have the northern region, which happens to be your home region, as their stronghold having ensured that the NPP’s electoral fortunes increased by some 400% in the last elections. This is in respect of the number of parliamentary seats occupied by the party (NPP) in the region. You have also rebranded the NPP and made it very appealing to the youth and students of this country. I say without doubt that you remain the NUMBER ONE THREAT to the electoral fortunes of the NDC. Like I once said, discerning Ghanaians prefer to grant you audience than the president of the Republic because of the hope you exude and this is evidenced in the overwhelming patronage your lectures receive. Your virtues, I cannot finish extolling…

On the occasion of your birthday, I am pleased to join the rest of the World in wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. May your wishes for this country and continent be realized soonest and may you continue to enjoy the best of health and prosperity. It is also my humble prayer that Almighty ALLAH continues to overwhelm you with His bountiful blessings and favours. Long live the BAWUMIAS! Long live Mother Ghana!

Assalamu alaikum 

This piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and MINDS for the love of God and country.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

Youth Activist/Social Commentator

Former NUGS Secretary

(0245335197)

Please it is shareable…

GOODWILL MESSAGE IN HONOUR OF ALHAJI DR. MAHAMOUD BAWUMIA

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN'S FOLDER

Where everyone is crawling, you are sitting; where everyone is sitting, you are standing; where everyone is standing, you are outstanding and where everyone is outstanding, you become the STANDARD for measuring performance. Where others see challenges, you see opportunities and where they see opportunities, you see and manifest successes. What others cannot see, you are able to see and what they see in future, you foresee now with your clairvoyance. It is therefore not surprising that they call you a prophet. You are undoubtedly, not just a blessing to the NPP, but Ghana, Africa, the World and indeed this generation as well as the unborn.

You contributed significantly towards the transformation of Ghana’s economy when you had the opportunity with your award winning exploits at the Bank of Ghana. You replicated this enviable feat in other African countries and in Europe. Your introduction into Ghana’s political scene in 2007 by Nana Akufo Addo would go in the annals of Ghana’s history as one of the most popular political decisions. On countless occasions, you shame your critics, both within and outside your political tradition. Any attempt made by your detractors to malign and vilify you, ends up becoming a monumental blessing to you.

You have, time without number, been vindicated in all your prophesies on Ghana’s economy despite the vitriolic repudiation and cynicism that same was met with; as well as the malignant attacks slapped on you by the babies with sharp teeth. Among several others, mention can be made of your prophesy that the NDC government would take Ghana back to the IMF by 2015 due to their reckless borrowing, your revelation about the faulty methodology used in the computation of inflationary figures; which was later corroborated by the IMF, your postulation that the Bank of Ghana’s prescriptions on how to arrest our fast depreciating cedi during the acute exchange rate volatilities.

I can go on and on and on but still cannot finish because the list is INEXHAUSTIBLE. In fact, I am yet to see a single prediction or forecast you have made about the Ghanaian economy which hasn’t materialized. No wonder the business community, to a large extent, depends on some of your economic projections in planning. In fact, some industry players who attended your latest lecture at the national theatre on the state of the Ghanaian economy confirmed this assertion to some media houses.

Politically, you are the reason why the NDC can no longer claim to have the northern region, which happens to be your home region, as their stronghold having ensured that the NPP’s electoral fortunes increased by some 400% in the last elections. This is in respect of the number of parliamentary seats occupied by the party in the region. You have also rebranded the NPP and made it very appealing to the youth and students of this country. I say without doubt that you remain the NUMBER ONE THREAT to the electoral fortunes of the NDC. Like I once said, discerning Ghanaians prefer to grant you audience than the president of the Republic because of the hope you exude and this is evidenced in the overwhelming patronage your lectures receive. Your virtues, I cannot finish extolling…

On the occasion of your birthday, I am pleased to join the rest of the World in wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. May your wishes for this country and continent be realized soonest and may you continue to enjoy the best of health and prosperity. It is also my humble prayer that Almighty ALLAH continues to overwhelm you with His bountiful blessings and favours. Long live the BAWUMIAS! Long live Mother Ghana!

Assalamu alaikum

This piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and MINDS for the love of God and country.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

Youth Activist/Social Commentator

Former NUGS Secretary

(0245335197)

Please it is shareable…