NUGS suspends its President

Accra, April 26, GNA - The President of National Union of Ghana Student (NUGS), Mr Samuel Okudzeto has lost his position following the decision of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon to secede from the Union.

Also affected is Ms Victoria Hamah, Women's Commissioner of NUGS, as well as other students of UG serving as executives on the blocs and committees of NUGS.

Mr Mahama Haruna, General Secretary of NUGS, would act as the President until the Central Committee of NUGS meets to decide the fate of the officers.

Announcing these at a press conference in Accra, Mr Haruna said Mr Okudzeto and Ms Hamah were at the meeting that relieved them of their positions on April 25, 2006.

He said Article 6 (1) of the NUGS Constitution stated that only students in a recognised institution could be members of NUGS and that with the breaking away of UG, the Union was in dilemma about how to handle the issue.

He said following the receipt of the secession notice from the SRC of UG, the Union had set up a five-member committee to critically look into the issue. It has five days within which to complete its work and present a report.

Mr Haruna said the Union had never met to take any decision to support the demonstration on the University of Ghana, Legon Campus and, therefore, disassociated itself from the acts of hooliganism, violence and destruction of property there.

He appealed to the General Assembly of UG, to rescind its decision and all students of the University to remain calm while the Union tried to resolve all outstanding issues.