BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Tensions are brewing on the University of Ghana campus as a group of final-year students launches a campaign to block the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) from holding its upcoming National Annual Delegates Conference at the University’s Sports Stadium, scheduled for July 17–19, 2025.
The protest is rooted in growing concerns over a recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases within the university community.
The students, most of whom are in their final semester and preparing for exams, argue that the planned political gathering — expected to draw thousands of delegates from across the country — poses a grave public health risk.
They say it is not only reckless but could trigger a new wave of infections at a time when the university is battling to contain a localized outbreak.
According to the students petition, which is expected to be submitted to the University’s Sports Directorate and management this week, hosting such a high-profile, mass event on campus flies in the face of health guidelines issued by the University Health Services Directorate.
COVID-19 Resurgence
On June 23, the University’s Health Services Directorate issued a formal alert confirming a resurgence of COVID-19 cases on campus and in surrounding areas of Accra.
The directive called for renewed vigilance and urged students and staff to adhere to preventive measures such as masking, social distancing, and limiting social gatherings.
In response, the Dean of Students took swift action, suspending all on-campus social events — a move that affected major student-organized programs, including activities by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG).
A follow-up statement from the SRC on June 28 echoed the call for compliance, urging students to be mindful of their health and community well-being.
Rising Infections Spark Alarm
The issue gained national attention on July 1 when the Minister of Health, appearing before Parliament, confirmed that 107 out of 316 suspected cases on the Legon campus had tested positive for COVID-19.
While the Minister assured lawmakers that the outbreak remained contained within the university community, he acknowledged that the situation remained fluid.
Against this backdrop, students say it is both unfair and dangerous for university authorities to allow a massive political event on campus while student groups remain barred from organizing even moderate gatherings.
“This is a double standard,” said one Level 400 political science student. “How can the university suspend student-led events because of COVID-19 but welcome thousands of NPP delegates? That makes no sense and puts our lives at risk.”
Students Demand Action
The students argue that the scale and nature of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference — typically a multi-day event involving indoor and outdoor activities, entertainment, and mass movement — could turn the UG Sports Stadium into a COVID-19 hotspot.
They are now calling on the University Sports Directorate, Vice-Chancellor, and the Health Directorate to intervene and, if necessary, engage the party’s leadership to either relocate the event or postpone it altogether.
“We are not being partisan,” another student emphasized. “This is not about politics. It’s about health and safety. If the government itself has acknowledged a COVID-19 resurgence, it should act responsibly and not prioritize a political gathering over the welfare of students.”
Some students have even suggested that hosting the conference under current conditions could trigger a campus-wide outbreak with national repercussions, potentially leading to a nationwide lockdown if infections spill over.
