Embattled NUGS president accuses gov't for his exit

Anthony Abotsi Afriyie

The President of the National Union of Ghana Students has described his removal from office as null and void and accuses Government of being behind the purported emergency Congress where a vote of no confidence was passed in him.

Anthony Abotsi alleges without mentioning names, that certain individuals within Government are sowing seeds of dissension in the Union.

He has threatened to expose such officials at a News Conference scheduled for Wednesday December 8.

The emergency Congress on Saturday December 4, was a reply to an alleged unilateral action by Mr. Abotsi who had earlier suspended two of the Union’s executives.

The Congress resolved that his actions were illegal. He is also accused of interfering in the University Students Association, which is a member of the Union.

The two suspended executives, the General Secretary Patrick Adonu and International Relations Secretary, Benedicta Lasi, have consequently been reinstated.

Patrick Adonu takes over until fresh elections are held in 21 days.  But Mr. Abotsi told Citi News that the Union’s members who organised the emergency congress are stooges of certain individuals in Government.

“It is about time we told the public about the kind of government interference that have gone into all of these since the congress” he said.
However, the Acting President of the Union, Patrick Adonu has issued a disclaimer describing Mr. Abotsi as a persona non-grata.
He told Citi News the Union has alerted the security agencies to arrest Mr. Abotsi if he purports or acts as the NUGS President.
Mr. Adonu denies claims by the dismissed NUGS President that certain persons in Government influenced the vote of no confidence against him.

“All that he is saying are lies. How can whichever Government official influence the minds of the local NUGS and SRC presidents? The truth of the matter is that Ghanaian students are discerning enough and we know what is good for us so we do it accordingly" he said.