Dr. Sadat Mohammed Is UTAG-UPSA President Elect
The University of Professional Studies, Accra ( UPSA) branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has legitimately elected Dr. Sadat Mahammed as its new president.
He polled 149 votes as against 148 votes by Dr. Fred Awuah.
The UTAG at the national level has upheld that Dr. Mohammed by Simple Majority is the legitimate President-elect and the Electoral Commission of UTAG-UPSA should declare him as such.
Dr. Awuah and his team would not concede defeat because none of the two candidates could secure 50+1 percent of the votes cast.
UTAG-National in a letter dated August 10, 2023, to the Chair of Electoral Commission, UTAG-UPSA, said: “Per Section 2 of Article XVIII of the UTAG Constitution, the declaration of results must be by ‘Simple Majority’ and not so-called ‘50+1’ rule as set by the Electoral Commission of UTAG-UPSA.
The letter further stated that ‘’On the declaration of the election result by UTAG-UPSA Electoral Commission, the NEC of UTAG is of the considered opinion that the Commission should immediately declare the election results. Any aggrieved party may petition against the results by adhering to the UTAG Constitution.
The letter from UTAG-National signed by the President, Professor Solomon Nunoo and National Secretary, Dr. Asare Asante-Annor has cured mischief to the effect that UTAG-UPSA election could not provide a President-elect.
The UTAG-National letter was in response to a petition it received on who becomes the next UTAG UPSA president.
The UTAG UPSA held its elections for new executives on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, but the inconclusiveness of the election of the president left voters in a state of confusion on who their next president would be, a report said earlier.
According to a statement made available to GhanaWeb, the two candidates polled 148 and 149 votes, representing 49.50% and 49.83% respectively, indicating no clear majority.
The letter from UTAG-National, has, therefore settled the impasse finally.
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
UNIVERSITY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA
The Chair
Electoral Commission, UTAG-UPSA
University of Professional Studies, Accra
P. O. Box LG149, Legon, Accra
Attn: Dr. Frederick Doe
Dear Sir,
Re: Impasse on Election 2023 Presidential Results
We refer to your letter dated 10th August 2023 on the above subject matter.
At a National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG meeting held on 10th August 2023 at the Eastern Premier Hotel, Koforidua, we considered your petition concerning the results of the elections held by the UTAG members at the University of Professional Studies.
Upon careful consideration of the issues raised, NEC resolved as follows:
With reference to the ‘50%+1’ rule adopted by the Electoral Commission of UTAG-UPSA for the conduct of the 2023 Elections, we refer to the circular released by the National Secretariat with reference number UTAG/NAT/2023/INL-005 and dated 20th July 2023. Among other things, the bullet stated that “where there is a variation between the UTAG National Constitution and any Branch By-Laws and Election Guidelines, the UTAG National Constitution shall supersede the
Branch By-Laws and Election Guidelines.” Thus, per Section 2 of Article XVIII of the UTAG Constitution, the declaration of results must be by ‘simple majority’ and not the so-called ‘50%+1’ rule as set by the Electoral Commission of UTAG-UPSA.
- On the declaration of the election results by the UTAG-UPSA Electoral Commission, the NEC of UTAG is of the considered opinion that the Commission should immediately declare the election results. An aggrieved party may petition against the results by adhering to the UTAG Constitution.
Prof Solomon Nunoo Dr Asare Asante-Annor National President National Secretary
University of Mines and Technology, UMaT, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
Tel: +233556548919 (President); +233552672313 (Secretary)
E-mail: nationalutag@gmail.com
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