Rapper Guru challenges disqualification from University of Ghana SRC Elections

Mr. Maradona Adjei Yeboah, popularly known as Guru NKZ, has filed a petition against the University of Ghana’s Student Representative Council (SRC) Electoral Commission following his disqualification from the SRC presidential race.

Guru, who was vying for the SRC presidency, was disqualified by the SRC’s Electoral Commission on the grounds that he does not meet the residency requirement as stipulated in the university's SRC constitution. 

According to the constitution, candidates for executive positions must be residents of one of the university's halls.

In an official statement posted on X, Guru addressed the disqualification, explaining that he has lodged a petition with both the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, contesting the decision. 

He highlighted that his legal team has also filed an interim injunction with the Judicial Board to temporarily halt the electoral process until a full hearing and ruling on the matter can take place.

"We understand the frustration and concern this situation has caused among our supporters and the general body of students. However, we want to assure you that our commitment to building an SRC with everyone remains stronger than ever," Guru stated.

The disqualification, which was confirmed by a vetting report issued by the SRC’s Vetting Committee on August 16, 2024, found that Guru, along with another aspirant, Lawrence Edinam Egleh, did not meet the necessary qualifications due to their non-residential status. 

Guru’s disqualification

According to the UG SRC Constitution, "A student shall not be qualified to any executive office unless: he is qualified to contest under his hall's constitution, except that a provision requiring a student to be in at least his third year in this University shall not disqualify such a person from contesting for any office under this article."

The constitution further specifies that any individual who does not reside in one of the university's halls is ineligible to hold a leadership position. 

"The committee after a critical assessment of the qualification criteria, noticed that Maradona Adjei Yeboah and Lawrence Edinam Egleh do not meet the criteria stated in Article 30 (1) (a) of the UG-SRC Constitution and therefore do not qualify or are not eligible to contest for an Executive Officer position of the University of Ghana Students' Representative Council (UGSRC). 

According to a vetting report issued on August 16, 2024, by the SRC's Vetting Committee, it indicated that Guru did not meet the conditions required to qualify for the position.

The report stated that during the vetting on August 11, 2024, three treasurer aspirants, three general secretary aspirants, and five presidential and vice-presidential aspirants were assessed. Among them, some did not meet the criteria for the election.

“Upon a careful examination of the documents submitted, it was discovered that two candidates from the presidential and vice presidential aspirants, indicated their non-residential status, which they further confirmed during vetting the process," the report said.

The report said that Mr Yeboah (Guru) and Lawrence Edinam Egleh were non-residential students, making them ineligible to contest the election.