USAG CRIES FOUL: Legon SRC President to be investigated for alleged malfeasance of over GH₵16,000.00
The General Assembly of the University of Ghana SRC in its sitting yesterday tasked a five-member commission to investigate claims of financial malfeasance by the current SRC President, Mr. Daniel Otting Awuah to the tune of over GH₵16,000.00. This followed a petition brought to the house by the former Financial Controller of the University Student Association of Ghana (USAG), Mr. Daniel Obeng.
According to the petitioner, each student from member institutions was expected to pay 50 pesewas as USAG dues. In this regard, USAG expected to receive GH₵10,000.00 from the University of Ghana as dues for an estimated 20,000 students. However, the records indicate that Mr. Otting Awuah, popularly called “Levels” bloated the estimated number of students to 25,000 and further increased the charge to Gh₵1.00 per head.
The SRC President of the nation’s Premier University went ahead to report to the General Assembly earlier this semester that, he paid GH₵25,000.00 to USAG as dues during the vacation, a claim which has been dislodged by Mr. Daniel Obeng. The petitioner further alleged that Mr. Awuah also paid the GHC25,000 into an account completely unknown to USAG.
In another revelation, the petitioner stated that USAG expected 35 delegates at its Congress in Tamale at a cost of GH₵ 250.00 each, making a total of GH₵ 8,750.00. However the SRC President and Treasurer, Miss Ethel Donkor reported to the General Assembly earlier this semester that they paid an amount of GH₵ 10,000.00 as capitation for 40 delegates, a claim which was also discounted by the petitioner.
Overall, the amount in contention is GH₵16,250.00. What is surprising is that neither the SRC President, his Vice – Moses Baafi Acheampong nor the SRC Treasurer herself showed up at yesterday’s General Assembly meeting to respond to any of these allegations. The only executive around was the SRC Secretary, Maame Serwaa Awotwe, who gave no clear responses on the allegations.
The 5 member committee, including Mr. Sampson Tagbor, Mr. Daniel Amewor, Mr. Richard Anim, Mr. Ishmael Quaye, and Mr. Ernest Ankrah are expected to begin investigations and submit their report to the General Assembly for the way forward within a one-week duration.
Meanwhile, the petitioner himself said he has already filed a formal petition to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for further probing into the matter.
This development comes at a time when the SRC executives already stand liable for removal from office after disregarding the orders of the SRC Judicial board some weeks back; a case which is on hold due to the involvement of the Dean of Student Affairs.
While these are ongoing, allegations of embezzlement by the SRC executives from some sponsorship deals from Ecobank are also yet to be uncovered. Campus Hot news will report these other matters as they unfold.
Readers may find a picture of the pay-in-slip of GH₵25,000 made by the SRC President into the unknown account and also a picture of the budget report submitted to the General Assembly.