UCC alumni face internal strife over legitimacy of president

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) Alumni Association is facing internal strife as the Concerned Alumni group challenges the legitimacy of Samuel Danso Akoto’s presidency.

The grievances intensified recently after Akoto’s role during the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree to Osabarima Dr. Kwesi Atta II, the paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area.

The group questioned Akoto’s authority to administer the alumni oath, emphasizing that his term as national alumni president ended on November 29, 2023.

They claim that since no elections were held to elect a new executive, Akoto’s continued leadership and administration of Alumni Oaths to graduates are both unconstitutional and illegal.

In a press release signed by Ernest Koomson, the convener of the Concerned Alumni, the group stated that the extension of Akoto’s expired term as president was against the association’s constitution.

“A body made up of regional presidents, purporting to be the highest decision-making body without any constitutional backing, extended Mr. Akoto’s term in clear violation of the Association’s Constitution,” the group claimed.

The Concerned Alumni group has therefore requested the university council and the minister of education to revoke Akoto’s recognition as a member of the governing council.

However in response, Samuel Danso Akoto dismissed the accusations as “frivolous, vexatious, and malicious.”

He described them as part of a grand scheme by certain individuals to distort the university council and achieve “diabolic intentions”.

He further stated, “This ‘noise’ is a testament to how attractive the Alumni Association has become.”

koto defended the extension of his term, saying it was decided by a duly constituted national council, consisting of various chapter presidents of the UCC Alumni Association.

He noted that the council aimed to establish additional regional chapters before holding an annual general meeting for elections.

“On the day of the meeting, six national executives, including the university’s rep on NEC, three hall presidents, 5 regional Presidents, one overseas chapter president, and two college presidents, including The UCC chapter president attended”.

He said, “Having established 11 Regional Chapters since assuming office, it was unanimously agreed that NEC completes the rest of the regions before an AGM is held to enable us to have a regional balance at the AGM. There was no single objection from any member”.

“NEC subsequently provided a roadmap on completing the establishment of the remaining five Northern Regions and Greater Accra relaunch by September 2024 so that AGM is held in November 2024, where elections would be conducted as usual.

“It will interest you to know that before this administration, past national executives were in office for over fifteen years with the same term of office without AGM or elections. The immediate past executives who handed over to us were in office for six years. I can give you an endless list of chapters who haven’t had elections for seven years and even more. Where were these so-called Concerned Alumni in all these,” Samuel Danso Akoto said.