The Former President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described findings made against him by the Investigative Committee set up by authorities of the University of Ghana, Legon to look into the unrest that characterized the Students' Representative Council (SRC) elections of April, 2006, as unlawful and unfair.

Okudzeto Ablakwa has been handed down a-two-semester sanction of academic rights and privileges with effect from July 21, being the date he was communicated to by a letter signed by Prof. C.N.B. Tagoe, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana over certain comments he was alleged to have made against the University.

As a result, the affable member of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) has instituted a legal action against the authorities of the University for disqualifying him in his pursuit of a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Communication Studies, over comments that he allegedly impugned on the image of the institution.

Affected by the legal application under Article 33(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 67 of C.I. 47, were Prof. Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and Prof. E.K. Awotwi, Vice-Dean of the School of Research and Graduate Studies of the University.

The suit, dated August 13, filed before an Accra Fast Track High Court (FTC) by Okudzeto Ablakwa, is requesting the court to make several orders, aimed at rendering the sanctions placed on him by the university authorities null and void.

Among the reliefs sought by the applicant were a court order compelling the Investigative Committee and Disciplinary Committee set up to investigate the issues bordering on the April 2006 SRC elections, to make available to him copies of their reports containing their findings as well as a declaration that the proceedings of the committee constituted in or about October 2006 to investigate him and other students were unlawful, unfair and violated the rules of natural justice.

Other reliefs included a declaration that the purported withdrawal of admission offered the applicant as per letter dated July 24, this year and signed by Prof. E.K. Awotwi, the Vice Dean of the University was unlawful, unfair and of no effect and a further declaration that it was unfair, unreasonable to the applicant and against the spirit of Article 296 of the 1992 constitution for the applicant to commence serving the sanctions two year after the disciplinary committee had completed with its investigations.

The applicant is further demanding a mandatory injunction to be placed on the University of Ghana, the Vice-chancellor and their agents to halt their intended action and register him as a fresh student to pursue a Master of Arts (MA) in Communication Studies as well as any other course he may have duly qualified to pursue in the Institution.

Okudzeto Ablakwa is also seeking an order to compel the University to restore his academic rights and privileges, general damages as well as cost.

In an affidavit in support of his application, the former NUGS president noted that in April 2006, a controversy arose about the qualification of one Lord Koranteng Hamah to contest the SRC elections as president, which led to an agitation from several students, who were of the view that certain people who were not mandated to partake in students politics in the institution were ensuring that Hamah did not contest the elections.

Applicant asserted that as a result of students' agitation, the executive members of NUGS became agitated as there was information that students were planning to embark on violent protests forcing a statement from the students' body demanding the Dean of Students to ensure that he gave students the chance to resolve their problems and remain impartial.

According to the applicant, few days after the statement was issued, the Dean of Students formed an investigative committee to investigate the statement, which he was made to appear before a panel together with other students without any legal representation.

Applicant indicated that he and his colleagues were prevented from knowing their accusers and also to cross-examine witnesses who gave evidence against them, adding that he had not received any report on the findings arrived at by the investigative committee.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa therefore indicated that he received a letter several months after appearing before the investigative committee, that he was to face a disciplinary committee chaired by Mr. Yaw Benneh, since a case had been made against him.

Applicant contended that the committee, who went ahead and received evidence from him failed to make available proceedings to him as was promised, adding that he and his other colleagues who appeared before the committee were also not given the opportunity to file their written addresses as they were made to believe.

He further noted that he had neither received any communication that the committee had completed its work nor received any report of the committee making adverse findings against him. However, he was denied his Bachelor degree certificate on request.

Okudzeto Ablakwa asserted, that he was informed by the registry of the University that his certificate had been withheld by the Vice-chancellor as a way of punishment against him.

Moreso, applicant held that he had been offered an admission to pursue an MA in Communication studies at the University on June 19, 2008 upon his application in January. He later received a letter from the Vice Dean, E.K. Awotwi informing him of the withdrawal of his admission to the institution.

The former NUGS president noted that he had protested against the withdrawal of his application to pursue a higher degree in a letter written by his lawyer and as he delivered the said letter at the office of the Vice chancellor, he was handed a letter dated July 21, this year indicating that adverse findings had been made against him by the disciplinary committee.

According to the applicant, he was accused of making "Serious but unfounded allegations against an officer of the University," stressing that no details of the said accusation was made.

Okudzeto Ablakwa is further of the view that the Dean of Student, Dr. Banoeng Yakubu issued a statement indicating that Lord Koranteng was not disqualified, stressing that he received a letter from the Vice chancellor identifying the causal link between his alleged statement and the students' demonstration that took place on campus.

Meanwhile, the Secretariat of the All-Africa Students Union, (AASU) in a petition dated August 15, 2008, called on H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General and the current Chancellor of the University of Ghana to intervene in what it called "Ongoing victimization of Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa."

According to the petition signed by the Secretary-General of AASU, Mr. Oludare Ogunlana, the withdrawal of the former NUGS president's admission was a "Breach of his fundamental human rights and an act of witch-hunting and victimization directed towards him as a result of his role as a student leader," stressing that it was "Ugly development and unexpected in this century where school authorities should see student leaders as partners in development."

AASU further requested that Mr. Ablakwa's admission must be restored with an apology from the university authority, taking cognizance of the fact that registration for the 2008/2009 academic year was on-going and the commencement of lectures August 18, 2008.