PHOTO OF NPP RALLY
The University of Ghana, long seen as Ghana’s citadel of intellectual freedom and democratic values, finds itself at the centre of a deepening controversy over a decision that critics say exposes a disturbing double standard.
On 25th June 2025, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Rosina I. Kyerematen, issued a firm directive suspending all student-led social events on campus. Citing a “resurgence of COVID-19 cases,” the University moved to cancel every form of gathering—from GRASAG and SRC events to Hall Weeks, departmental durbars and JCR activities.
The move was widely accepted as a responsible, albeit painful, response to a public health concern.
But within days, campus grounds have been opened for a massive, high-profile political event: the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Annual National Delegates Conference—expected to bring thousands of delegates, party stalwarts, media, and political operatives to the University of Ghana campus.
This contrast has sparked outrage.
“One Rule for the Politicians, Another for the Students”
Students and observers have taken to social media and campus platforms to express their anger and disbelief.
“Why are SRC events cancelled but NPP’s Delegates Conference is allowed?” asked Ama Owusua, a Law student. “Are we now a political playground or an academic institution?”
Indeed, many student groups had invested heavily in preparation for academic weeks, conferences, and cultural events. Those efforts are now for nothing, while the same campus prepares to host a major political convergence.
“Legon students are being told COVID is a threat to their safety, but that same threat disappears when it comes to accommodating the opposition party? This is pure hypocrisy,” a member of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) fumed.
The Silence of the Authorities
As backlash mounts, University authorities remain tight-lipped.
There has been no official clarification on:
• Whether the COVID restrictions apply to external political bodies.
• What public health provisions have been made to handle the large influx of NPP delegates?
• Or why political activities appear exempt from health concerns cited to cancel student programmes.
Efforts by The Hawk to get a comment from the Office of Student Affairs and University management have so far been met with silence.
Experts Weigh In: A Dangerous Precedent
Public health and governance experts warn this sends a damaging signal—not just to students, but to all Ghanaians.
“If you say a health crisis justifies restrictions, those restrictions must apply universally,” said Dr. Afua Tetteh, a public health specialist. “Otherwise, you’re telling young people that rules bend for politicians and break for the powerless.”
Political analyst Dr. Kwame Boateng called the University’s posture “an erosion of institutional independence.”
“Once a public university is seen to be accommodating politicians at the expense of its own community, it loses credibility. This is how institutions slide from autonomy to complicity,” he warned.
A Campus in Protest, A Government on Display
“To say we are disappointed is an understatement,” said a senior SRC official who asked to remain anonymous. “The University is clearly speaking from both sides of its mouth. Either there is a COVID threat or there isn’t. You can’t suspend our activities and then roll out the red carpet for politicians.”
Several student leaders have hinted at filing a formal petition demanding clarity from the administration and a reversal of what they are calling a “blatant act of bias.”
The Questions That Demand Answers
This controversy leaves the University with pressing questions it cannot afford to ignore:
• Who authorised the use of UG facilities for the NPP conference amid COVID restrictions?
• Why are student events deemed unsafe, while mass political gatherings are permitted?
• What safety protocols are in place to protect the university community?
• Is the University still committed to impartiality, or has it capitulated to political pressure?
The Bigger Picture: Legon’s Identity Crisis
This incident is not just about a cancelled Hall Week or political event. It speaks to a larger crisis of trust in public institutions.
For students, the message is clear: their rights can be put on hold while politicians get VIP access.
And for a university whose motto is Integri Procedamus — Proceed with Integrity — this episode may prove its greatest test yet.
As one student succinctly put it:
“They say COVID is the reason. But the real virus here is double standards.”
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