Ghanaian musician Maradona Yeboah Adjei, popularly known as Guru, has taken legal action to challenge his disqualification from the 2024 University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC) elections.
On August 16, 2024, the UGSRC Electoral Commission disqualified Guru, citing his non-residency status as a breach of the constitutional requirements outlined in Article 4(d)(ii) of the Constitutional Instrument (CI 24).
This provision invalidates a candidate’s entire ticket if one member fails to meet eligibility criteria.
In response, Guru has filed a petition with the UGSRC Judicial Board, seeking an interim injunction to halt the upcoming elections scheduled for August 26, 2024.
The petition calls into question the fairness and constitutionality of disqualifying non-resident students from contesting in the SRC elections, especially when the decisions made by the SRC impact the entire student body.
“TAKE NOTICE that Council for and on behalf of the Plaintiff /Applicant herein praying for an order for interim injunction to restrain the Defendant/Respondent, their agents, servants, and any persons whatsoever authorized by them from going ahead to proceed with the election pending the final determination of this suit,” part of his petition said.
Guru’s petition argues that the UGSRC Electoral Commission’s decision was unconstitutional, asserting that the interpretation and enforcement of constitutional provisions fall under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Board, not the vetting committee.
The petition further calls for a declaration that Guru is qualified to run for the position of UGSRC President and seeks an order to restrain the Electoral Commission from proceeding with the elections until the matter is resolved.
