We make reference to clairnewsz.wordpress.com.
The piece you are about to read is one that is not based on allegations and emotions but on facts obtained thorough investigations.
How did they got to gather the fact according to clairnewsz.wordpress.com?
We formed small teams of 20 students purporting to carry some level of influence in some halls of residence because we are “AGENDA BOYS”. We presented all the candidates with proposals that we will work for them and in turn, they will pay us. The payment plans were based on what level of work we were supposed to do. For us to work in just selected halls of the candidate’s choice, we charged Ghc3000. For the whole of the main campus, we charged GHc5000. We carried out this research to ascertain the financial backing of each Presidential candidate and their sources of funding.
Findings:
We found that some candidates were heavily sponsored by Political parties while others had no such backing but relied on their families, friends, and students support to run their campaigns. We further interrogated why candidates without financial backing from political parties did not have such backing since it is an effective way of mobilizing resources to run campaigns. “Some demands of these political parties are not in line with student interests. They will give you the money with the condition that you stay mute and find a way of diverting students’ attention from critical matters which can make them (Political parties) unpopular. They run the administration from behind. You will just be a ceremonial SRC President with no power to think and act on your own” the best you can do is to organize programs and give them large platforms to talk to students _One of the candidates bemoans.
Here are their findings in no definite order.
K.Noah and K.Ambruce:
According to them, their main target was on this team because the team leader, K.Noah has over the years portrayed himself as incorruptible and has on several occasions spoken vehemently against Partisan infiltration in student politics. In recent weeks we have seen some videos of him speaking against division among students due to partisan politics in student affairs. He argued that while we can all belong to our separate political parties when it comes to student affairs, we should stay clear of political biases and present a strong and united front to face management with our demands. We tried K.Noah to find out if he was sponsored by a political party using different teams and on different occasions.
Findings:
While K.Noah agreed that he sought help from political parties, he however pitifully narrated how he had to reject help from these political parties due to the conditions they gave him. He noted that the 2022/2023 academic year of the University of Ghana will be one that students will need a strong and united front with an independent thinking leader to fight for their welfare because tuition fees and accommodation fees will most likely rise in an unprecedented manner just like it is happening in Knust. It is better for me to lose and hold my integrity as a young man than for me to take huge sums of money and fail a large number of poor students like myself who will suffer the tuition fees and accommodation price increases that will likely take effect in the 2022/2023 academic year. Taking their money means accepting to be their puppet and a ceremonial SRC President who can’t speak even when students are suffering. I’m too young to betray the trust of all these innocent students”. K.Noah pleaded with all our teams to support him not because he had money to give them but because he has genuine intentions for students.
Curtis And Linda
Like K.Noah, we used the same trial methods on this team. For Curtis, it is widely speculated that he was sponsored by the ruling Party. However, we did not want to make assumptions when the facts are not far-fetched.
Findings:
Curtis admits that he has support from some political figures including the Member of Parliament of the Ayawaso West constituency and other elements of the political party. He promised to fulfill all our financial obligations provided we are willing to work for him as we proposed.
Even though he wasn’t open to us on the amount of money this political party has pumped into his campaign, he boasts of having a budget of GHc100, 000 devoted to his campaign. He promised good feeding throughout the process aside from what he was going to pay us and also promised to give appointments to those who will like to add value to their CVs. “…appointment in student politics is not based on any competencies. It is about who was there for you in your campaign. You saw how Asumadu did his appointments? he appointed those who worked for him. You saw how I worked for him last year, that’s why he appointed me. You have no reason to worry….”.
Boakye and Lincoln
Using the same techniques and multiple teams, we tested this pair too.
Findings:
Among the candidates, this pair appeared to have more resources. Boakye openly boasts of his links within the ruling party. To each of the teams we tested them with, they promised to give extra should we prove to be capable of delivering what we proposed to them. Boakye and Lincoln hinted at having Ghc120,000 to run an effective campaign and that they are still anticipating some other money from some ministers who have an interest in Legon student politics. “…. Chale this is Politics. What you will do to get power is what matters. If I’m elected and my party wants me to act in certain ways, what is wrong with serving my party?. If fees increase, it is probably because of Free Senior high school so the monies their parents saved during that time they should come and use to pay. I have waited very long to win the UGSRC elections and I’m ready to do anything for it. I can’t waste my time by deferring for two consecutive years. This is my time and I won’t let it go. Do you think we can construct two astroturfs? But we have it in our policy. These are strategies to win elections. Preach what voters want. When you get the power, you show them the reality. That is how politics operate. We have been here for a long time so we have experience in Legon politics. He is in level 500 in medical school and I’ve been here since 2017. We can’t allow these small boys to win power from us”. There have been media reports that alleged that Lincoln and Boakye promised to help the NPP win power in 2024 should they be made winners.
Samuel Ackom and Ramzy
This pair was tested with the same approach as the others. We, however, paid critical attention to Samuel Ackom because his true political colors have been hidden from the public.
Findings:
“Politics is a money game” Ackom notes jokingly. For the money we have but we need committed and trusted people to work with. We won’t be happy to give you our money and the following day we see you working for another candidate.” We got our money from the opposition party and you know because I have hidden my party colors, I still get some help from the ruling party.” Chale how you guys dey take get this money na? I for do some_one of our guys said jokingly. “ … they give conditions oo its not for free. Some of the conditions for getting money from political parties are not so attractive to student welfare but what can we do? You either take it or lose. That’s how our society has been structured and you must either be willing to conform or your place is not politics”. Politics is a game of deceit. If you’re smart to take the best promises as your policies, you win. How do you expect an SRC President to build a farm? Don’t I have books to read like other students? But you have to make some of these promises to stay on top of the game. That is what electorates in Ghana like.”
Graham and Benedict
With the same approach, we made our findings from this pair.
Findings:
While Graham appeared in his speech to be one that cares about student welfare, he refused to openly talk about his funding. “ …. I can’t say I have money but I can’t also say I don’t have at all. We can have agreements. You know my Vice wasn’t prepared to contest for this position so he didn’t prepare any money down. I have to take most of the cost. I couldn’t have watched for students to suffer while I could do something to help.” He noted that while political parties may in some instances seek to suppress student views that can make them unpopular, it is a fact that we can’t do away with political parities in any form of politics in this country. He however did not openly agree whether he had support from any political parties
For security reasons, audios have been withheld.
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