UG students defy SRC, GRASAG call to stop Monday protest

In a joint statement issued on November 1, the SRC and GRASAG described the group as an “unrecognised” and “unregistered” organisation within the University.

However, Convener of the Concerned Students of the University of Ghana, Nasiba Abass, has rejected the description, accusing the two student associations of misrepresenting the group’s status.

Speaking to Citi News, she insisted that the group is recognised by the University, citing its engagements with the Dean of Students, the SRC and GRASAG, as well as media and state institutions.

“They [SRC and GRASAG] are lying, I would say that explicitly. Why? Because we are recognised. We are recognised because we have had media engagements; we have had engagements with the state. We have had engagements with the Dean of Students and, by extension, the school. We have also engaged with the SRC and GRASAG, who are now saying we are unrecognised,” she said.

Abass also said the demonstration was postponed from November 2 to November 9 after the Police requested more time to prepare for the exercise.

She explained that although the group initially gave the Police five days’ notice, in line with the Public Order Act, the officers requested 10 days to allow them to prepare personnel for the demonstration.

“When we submitted the letter, they [the Police] explained to us that, yes, of course, the Public Order Act specifies that we would have to give them five days’ notice. However, they were requesting 10 days’ notice because they needed ample time to prepare their men to come and facilitate the process. They asked us to give them 10 days, which would be enough time for them to prepare,” she added.