By Nana Kwasi Asuman-Frimpong (SayItRight)
The political climate among students at the Ghana School of Law is heating up following the publication of the programme of activities ahead of the election of the next set of executives for the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) by the Electoral Commission on March 5, 2025.
According to the EC’s timetable, elections are scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 2025 (incidentally, my birthday) and Wednesday, April 9 2025, with the declaration set for Wednesday, April 9 2025. Since the publication, signed by Irene Ntem Maanoh, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, did not outline the modalities for conducting the election itself, I will reserve my comments on that for a future discussion.
Duties of an SRC President
As we prepare for the election, it is my considered view (which I have already shared with some people) that over 80% of the real work of an SRC president is advocacy. An SRC president has the rare duty of advocating on behalf of students—ensuring their welfare, protecting their interests, and making their years at the Ghana School of Law a jolly ride with minimal hiccups.
The organisation of events, in my view, constitutes only about 20% of what keeps a serious SRC president awake at night. I say this because any competent SRC president worth his/her salt should be able to marshal a strong team to handle event organisation. Given that every SRC administration includes an Organising Secretary, Treasurer, General Secretary, and a long list of committees, a good SRC president should be able to motivate his/her team to get the job done.
What an SRC president cannot and should not be allowed to delegate is the fundamental task of advocating for students’ welfare and interests. Meeting with the Director of Legal Education; lobbying the administration to act in the interest of students—the primary stakeholders in legal education in Ghana; identifying key individuals such as alumni, and engaging relevant bodies like the Ghana Legal Council and the Bar Association in the interest of the students are the real duties of an SRC president.
Integrity and credibility
With these Herculean tasks comes the need for the right person to take up the responsibility. As the sages say, “We send the wise, not the one with the long legs.” An SRC president should possess the tact and experience built over years of leadership, particularly in student governance. The SRC president of the prestigious Ghana School of Law should NOT CARRY any baggage of a past scandal, no matter how minor, from previous leadership roles. He/she should be able to publish his/her track record confidently, without fear of scrutiny, and be competent enough to defend it.
Students of Ghana School of Law
The students of the Ghana School of Law are arguably among the most influential personalities in Ghana. They include traditional leaders, clergy, corporate executives, political figures, past student leaders, and union representatives, among other Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
Such a distinguished group of individuals cannot be led by someone with a questionable past, whose name—when searched on Google—brings up a scandal from his/her previous leadership role. This class of people deserves an unblemished, experienced advocate with the right skills, integrity, and a proven track record as its leader.
This is just the beginning of my rants ahead of the SRC elections. Stay tuned for more.
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