This is a fascinating story of politics in Ghana on a micro level. It is a sad story of student politicking and a peculiar story of the University of Education Winneba-Mampong Campus.
rawgist.com was on the campus in April to observe the students’ elections of that university and the observations were quite mind-boggling.
Various Hostels had leaders who would physically prevent anyone from campaigning to their constituents unless a stipulated fee is paid to them. The fees varied from Hostel to Hostel depending on their numbers perceived electoral strength.
The fees ranged from 80cedis to 250 cedis per Hostel and were in many cases written somewhere close to the entrance of the hostels for the information of the various student politicians. This wouldn’t have been such a big problem for the candidates but for the several hostels that existed around the University. rawgist.com was told by the students we spoke to that it has been a long-standing tradition.
Doors will swing opened soon as the money is paid and the leader would gather the entire Hostel into one sitting within minutes.
Beside that, there was the all too popular “traditional council of students” to deal with. This phenomenon of chieftaincy outside the laid-down students’ leadership structure has gained roots in all the public Universities throughout Ghana. Infact some lecturers and prominent citizens are a product of these systems. One had to obtain their “blessings” somehow before the voting day or risk loosing the election. The “Chief” had an elaborate
following that made his choice the likely victor.
The most fascinating aspect of the electioneering on that campus was election day. Voting started well towards the afternoon. Though it was scheduled for early in the day, polling materials were not made available and the Electoral Commissioner missing in action for most part of the morning. Many students who were tired of queing returned to their hostels with the explanation that they would return later in the day to vote.
Finally, when the voting started, a lot of small groups of students were seen scattered outside the polling area. They claimed they were undecided and would only vote for whichever candidate gave them money. They were quite outspoken and upfront with their demands on the various candidates. Failure to give them money or enough money only warranted a threat of loosing woefully. All the candidates had ostensibly prepared for this. They were wielding several brand new one cedi notes which they dished out in the queue and to various groups in corners nearby. Once they took the money, they walked straight to join the queue to vote. Sometimes, someone would come and share another round of one cedi notes; a situation that confused both the candidates and their bribe taking electorates. Some candidates had to rush back to the bank or Mobile Money agents to fetch more cash to out do their opponents.
At the end of the vote, people who were known lead contenders are sometimes found wallowing at the bottom of the results sheet. The larger student population couldn’t care less as they all explain helplessly how it is out of their hands to do anything about the situation.
The positive perhaps as far as UEW-Mampong elections go might be the seeming non-interference in the process by Faculty members or school administrators as occurs in other Universities.
