A letter to Guru: Stand up for non-resident students

Dear Guru,

It’s time to take a stand and consider legal action against the SRC of the University of Ghana. Winning this case wouldn’t just be a personal victory—it would be a triumph for thousands of non-residential students who have been unjustly marginalized.

The SRC Constitution, specifically Article 30 (1)(a), states: “A student shall not be qualified for any executive office unless: he is qualified to contest under his hall’s constitution… A person who does not reside in any of the halls of the university shall not qualify to occupy a leadership position.” This clause blatantly discriminates against non-residential students, barring them from participating in student governance despite their academic qualifications.

This isn’t just an oversight—it’s a deliberate attempt to exclude non-residential students from having a voice in their own university. The implication here is that if you’re not living on campus, you’re somehow less worthy of leadership, which is both unfair and unreasonable.

Imagine if the law stated that only those who are qualified residential students could contest—there would at least be a standard to meet. But to outright ban non-residential students from participating as if they had a choice in their residency status is nothing short of malicious.

You must take this to court and demand justice. The SRC should be directed to refund the dues paid by non-residential students like yourself since they have effectively been denied the benefits that these dues are supposed to cover. Furthermore, the court should compel the SRC to establish a parallel structure that allows non-residential students to manage their own affairs and have their voices heard.

It’s no secret that the University of Ghana doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate all its students. This has been the case for years, leading to policies like the “in-out-out” system. So, how did the SRC even arrive at the conclusion that every executive must be a resident? Are these roles about leadership or housekeeping?

This isn’t just about a university election—it’s about fairness, inclusion, and ensuring that every student, regardless of where they live, has the opportunity to lead and contribute to their community. It’s time to challenge this archaic and discriminatory rule and push for a more equitable system. The fight isn’t just yours, Guru; it’s a fight for justice for all non-residential students.

Tag Guru for me

By Charles McCarthy

@TheHawkNewspaper