NUGS Suspends 2 Officers

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday December 2, 2010
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has suspended two of its national officers for allegedly breaching the union’s constitution.

The decision was taken by the central committee which is the second highest decision-making body of NUGS and the affected officers are Patrick Adonoo, NUGS General Secretary and Benedicta Lasi, NUGS International Relations Secretary.

A news release issued in Accra and signed Anthony Abotsi Afriyie
NUGS President accused the General Secretary of addressing a Cuban-Embassy Solidarity campaign without the knowledge of the union and thus brought the name of union into disrepute by lying about the union’s stance during the UTAG strike while the International Relations Secretary was said to have designed and used an illegal letterhead of the union and together with the General Secretary issued a press statement in respect of some international issues without the knowledge of the union.

The release said the central committee of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is asking two to step-aside for various offenses pending a conclusive report from the Judicial Board.

“This decision was taken at the Central Committee meeting which is the second highest decision–making body in the union convened on the 27th November, 2010 at Zenith University College in Accra. They therefore remain non-executive officers of NUGS until otherwise decided by the Union.”

The release said NUGS is cautioning individuals, organizations and the public that until further correspondence from the union in respect of this matter, anybody who deals with the two in relation to the union would be doing so at their own risk saying “NUGS would not be held accountable in any such situation.”

Reacting to the allegations in a telephone interview, Ms. Lasi accused the NUGS President of being arrogating to himself all executive functions of the union, sidelining everybody and trying to run it as his personal property.”

She admitted attending a Cuban Solidarity Campaign programme on October 27, 2010 but said they were there on the blessings of most of the NUGS executives saying as far as rule are concerned they did not breach any rule.

She said the seven NUGS National Officers came together to print the letter head and could not have done it alone saying “the president is victimizing anybody who tries to challenge his one-sided decisions.”

“The body set up by the President for the so-called investigation is bogus, null and void. They did not even give us the chance to respond to the allegations only to come out with this absurd release. We are still at posts.”