The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has asked the union’s national president, Mr. Paa-Quecy Adu to step aside until a court case challenging his legitimacy as a student is determined.
A statement released and signed by the union’s press and information secretary, Thomas Takyi-Bonsu, indicated the decision was taken at the 2nd National Executive Committee meeting which was held at the Union’s Secretariat on Wednesday.
Below is the full statement by NUGS:
“NUGS SETS ITS PRESIDENT ASIDE”
The National Executive Committee of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), yesterday reached a decision to set aside its President, Mr. Paa Quecy Adu who is embattled in court. This decision was made at its 2nd National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting held at its Secretariat on Wednesday November 18, 2015.
The facts of the matter are as follows:
a) That Mr. Paa Quecy Adu’s legitimacy to the NUGS Presidency is being fiercely contested in two different cases, by two different members of NUGS on the grounds of qualification (Article 70 of the NUGS Constitution). The first case against Mr Adu was filed in the High Court in Accra, and the second in the Madina magistrate court.
b) That there is the grave subject of conflict of interest, seeing that Mr Adu cannot be a referee and player at the same time. Thus, Mr Adu as NUGS President ought to represent the Union in court in the event of any suit preferred against NUGS in all legal matters (Article 40 (d) of the NUGS Constitution), however the contention is that Mr Adu cannot be expected to act in good faith without sacrificing the interest of NUGS since the matter borders on his illegitimacy.
c) Mr Adu has consistently told blatant lies to the National Executive Committee concerning the Union and himself in court over his illegitimacy. He has always sought to disregard the court issues as if they didn’t exist. As we speak, NUGS is incurring cost each time the Union fails to make an appearance in court. The National Executive Committee holds the opinion that the continuous absence of NUGS in court to defend itself could lead gross fines, amounting to financial loss to the Union. This has prompted NEC to take this action to forestall this likely event in the interim to mitigate the seemingly looming crisis.
Elsewhere, if anyone was involved in a matter of conflict of interest, such a person will on his or her own evolution step aside for the law to take its course until such a time that the person has been cleared. On account of the fact that Mr Adu has demonstrated an unwillingness to abide by this common ethic, NEC is compelled to intervene to allow the right thing to be done, especially so when Mr Adu has severally been advised to do so at an informal level.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) has therefore resolved as follows:
That in view of the fact that by all intents and purposes, Mr Adu has willfully sought to undermine the court process to the detriment of the Union, the National Executive Committee has from this day forward (18th November, 2015) ordered Mr Paa Quecy Adu to step aside while the National Secretary makes an appearance in court to pursue the interest of the Union.
The Union therefore wishes to use this medium to put the nation on alert that until all the court matters against Mr Paa Quecy Adu are concluded, the National Secretary, Mr Ferdinand Boakye Boateng, shall act in the capacity as Ag. NUGS President.
It is important to stress that all official correspondence from hence must be directed to the Ag President, Mr Ferdinand Boakye Boateng, until such a time that that Union communicates otherwise.
We are hopeful that Mr Paa Quecy Adu is able to clear himself and return to his duties as NUGS President.
Resolution Passed This Day, Wednesday November 18, 2015.
Signed:
Thomas Takyi-Bonsu
(NUGS Press & Information Secretary)
