Graduate students at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) have expressed growing frustration over what they describe as deliberate attempts to frustrate the Graduate Students’ Association (GRASAG-GIMPA) elections, accusing the Dean of Students, Professor Augustina Akonnor, and her Assistant, Kwabena Amoah, of allegedly obstructing the electoral process.
According to the aggrieved students, the prolonged delay in releasing the official voters’ register has left the Electoral Commission unable to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, despite the elections having already been postponed once.
The elections, originally scheduled for July 23, 2026, were rescheduled to July 31, 2026, to make way for GIMPA’s graduation ceremonies. However, students say the Electoral Commission has still not received the official register of registered graduate students, making it impossible to proceed with the polls.
The students allege that Professor Akonnor and Kwabena Amoah have refused to release the register despite repeated requests from the Electoral Commission and student representatives. They further claim that the Dean of Students has applied the association’s rules selectively and inconsistently, thereby undermining the democratic process.
According to the students, the continued delay is in direct conflict with the GRASAG-GIMPA Constitution, which requires elected student executives to represent graduate students on the institution’s Academic Board.
The impasse has reportedly escalated into a legal battle, with four separate lawsuits said to be pending over the delayed elections. Sources also indicate that GRASAG has engaged legal counsel, who has formally demanded the immediate release of the voters’ register and warned that further legal action, including applications for court injunctions, could follow should the situation remain unresolved.
While students accuse the Dean of Students’ Office of frustrating efforts to conduct the elections, they say some members of GIMPA’s management have stepped in to seek a resolution. They specifically commended Deputy Rector Professor Ebenezer Adaku and Dean of the Business School, Professor Obeng Acquah, for their reported efforts to mediate the dispute and restore normalcy.
Beyond the electoral concerns, students are also demanding a comprehensive forensic audit into the management of GRASAG funds. They argue that despite a graduate student population exceeding 1,500—whose members contribute between GH¢300 and GH¢400 in dues depending on their programme—there has been little or no financial accountability over the years.
According to the concerned students, no audited financial statements have been presented to the graduate student body, raising concerns about how the association’s resources have been managed and whether the funds remain intact.
In an attempt to resolve the deadlock, GIMPA’s legal counsel is said to have advised students to obtain signatures from at least 20 percent of the Senate, made up of class representatives, to facilitate the formation of an Interim Management Committee as provided for under the association’s constitution.
Although the required signatures were successfully secured, students claim the Interim Management Committee has yet to be constituted, further prolonging the leadership vacuum.
Members of the coalition of concerned students, including representatives from the GIMPA Law School, have also expressed disappointment with what they describe as poor student governance.
“The legacy of the Dean of Students is nothing to write home about,” one law student said. “Under her leadership, we have witnessed more than four legal actions over her failure to allow elections to be organized smoothly. As we speak, graduate students have no representative on the Academic Board because there are no functioning executives.”
The student added that several welfare concerns affecting graduate students continue to go unresolved because there is no elected leadership to advocate on their behalf.
Another student questioned how an institution that prides itself as a centre of excellence could continue to experience repeated governance challenges surrounding student representation.
The students are therefore calling for the immediate release of the voters’ register, the conduct of credible elections, and a full forensic audit into GRASAG finances to restore confidence in the association’s administration.
Despite their concerns, the students praised GIMPA Rector, Professor K. Bonsu, for what they described as his commitment to student welfare. They said they remain confident in his assurances that students’ funds will be protected and that the current impasse will ultimately be resolved.
Efforts to obtain comments from Professor Augustina Akonnor, Kwabena Amoah, or GIMPA management regarding the allegations were not immediately successful. Their responses will be published if received.
