Guru UG SRC Presidential Bid Hits Rock

Ghanaian artiste Guru NKZ, whose birth name is Maradona Adjei Yeboah, has been disqualified from the University of Ghana Student Representative Council (SRC) race due to his non-resident status.

This disqualification occurred after it was discovered that he did not meet the residency requirements essential for participating in the election. His ambition to run for the SRC position was confirmed in an interview on TV3, where Guru stated, “Yes…and I will.” His desire to lead, he explained, stems from a deep-seated wish to empower people and address the numerous challenges faced by the masses.

Throughout his career, Guru has maintained a scandal-free image, consistently aiming to motivate and support those around him. His decision to run for SRC President at the University of Ghana was a test of his leadership abilities and a response to the challenges students face. He highlighted several critical issues, including the outdated use of ID cards, the high cost of school fees, and the lack of adequate medical facilities on campus.

However, the University of Ghana SRC 2024 vetting committee revealed in a statement that Guru, alongside other aspirants, was disqualified due to their non-resident status. The statement explained that the vetting process uncovered that two candidates from the Presidential and Vice-Presidential aspirants had indicated their non-resident status, which they confirmed during the vetting process.

The disqualification has sparked discussions among students and fans, with many expressing disappointments that Guru will not be able to contest in the election. Despite this setback, Guru NKZ has yet to officially comment on his disqualification, although his supporters continue to show their loyalty.

The vetting committee further clarified that the disqualification was in accordance with Article 30(1)(a) of the UGSRC constitution, which stipulates that a student must meet certain residency requirements to qualify for election to any executive office within the SRC.

This was announced to the student body in a statement issued by the Vetting Committee on August 16 following the vetting of aspirants on August 11,2024.

“The committee after a critical assessment of the qualification criteria noticed that, Maradona Adjei Yeboah and Lawrence Edinam Egleh do not meet the criteria stated in article 30(1)(a) of the UGSRC constitution and therefore do not qualify or are not eligible to contest for an Executive Officer position of the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC),” excerpts of the statement said.

The statement further clarifies that Guru and Edinam Egleh were disqualified because they could not meet the requirement of article 30(1)(a) of the UGSRC constitution which stipulates that “a student shall not be qualified for election to any executive office unless: he is qualified to contest elections under his hall’s constitution, except that a provision requiring a student to be in at least his third year in this University shall not disqualify such a person from contesting for any office under this article.”

This ruling has underscored the importance of adherence to the constitutional requirements for participation in the student leadership elections.