The Electoral Commissioner of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) National, Manef Abdallah, has denied formally declaring results for the recent GRASAG elections held at Ensign Global University, Kpong.

In an official statement, Mr. Abdallah urged the public to disregard any unofficial results circulating online or through other channels, emphasizing that they are false.

“Any results circulating at this moment are not from the Electoral Commission.

The Commission will communicate the official results at the appropriate time,” he stated.

The election has been marred by controversy following allegations that armed National Security operatives stormed the venue to intimidate delegates and influence the outcome.

Eyewitnesses claim that the operatives were allegedly led by Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Yakubu of the National Security Secretariat.

Reports suggest these actions were allegedly orchestrated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth wing through an ally, Bernard Dartey (alias Kawawa), the Director of Operations at the NDC Youth Wing.

According to witnesses, Dartey arrived in a white Nissan Hardbody pickup (AP 566-24) and a military pickup (44 GA 33), leading a group of heavily armed men who issued threats and warned students against resisting their interference.

Emerging reports indicate that Bernard Dartey boasted about being a National Security operative and admitted acting on orders to secure victory for Jimmy Mawuse Adangbe, a University of Ghana student.

Notably, all three presidential candidates—Jimmy Mawuse Adangbe, Alhaji Baba Suleman, and Favour Aikins—are affiliated with the NDC.

Additional reports suggest that some NDC activists, dressed in military uniforms and allegedly under Bernard Dartey’s command, worked alongside security operatives to intimidate students and obstruct the voting process.

It is further alleged that individuals associated with the youth wing, including Bright Agyiri, Richard Class-Peters, and Sharif Mohammed Ayedakew, were allegedly armed with pistols.

In a shocking escalation, security operatives reportedly fired gunshots to instil fear and force compliance.

Witnesses recounted that Bernard Dartey and his group physically assaulted students who resisted their interference, resulting in injuries among some delegates.

The controversy deepened when several institutions were arbitrarily barred from voting.

Among them were:

University of Mines and Technology, the home institution of one candidate’s running mate. Institute of Local Government Studies, whose delegates were prevented from casting their ballots. University of Health and Allied Sciences, which was also denied voting rights. Ensign Global University, the host institution of the elections, which was shockingly excluded from the process.

Many students have compared this incident to the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence, where National Security operatives, led by DSP Samuel Azugu, attacked civilians.

At the time, former President John Mahama and civil society organizations strongly condemned the violence.

However, students now question why similar tactics are being deployed against graduate students in a democratic election.

“When DSP Azugu led armed men to attack civilians at Ayawaso West Wuogon, we all condemned it,” one delegate said. “Why is this happening again under John Mahama’s government? We demand answers!”

 

With tensions rising, students and observers are calling for an independent investigation into the alleged voter suppression, security intimidation, and election malpractices to ensure justice and transparency in the GRASAG elections.