The 2025 elections of the Political Science Students Association (POSSA) at the University of Ghana have stirred mixed reactions on campus—not because of who won, but because of how few turned up to vote.
Out of 3,913 eligible students, only 685 cast their ballots. That’s a turnout of just 17.5%, one of the lowest in recent years. Despite the low numbers, Foster Ashiatey and Theophilus Afedzie were elected as president and vice president, securing a commanding 95.8% of the total votes.
While the pair celebrated victory, many students voiced frustration and disillusionment with student leadership and the electoral process.
“Most of us don’t believe student leaders truly represent our interests,” one student shared. “Over the years, promises have been made and broken. People are tired.”
Another student added, “It feels like student politics is just noise. Everyone is minding their own business now.”
One major hurdle that may have contributed to the low turnout was the university’s recent migration from Gmail to Microsoft Outlook. Since voting was conducted via student email authentication, several students who hadn’t successfully activated their new Outlook accounts were left out.
“The switch to Outlook wasn’t smooth at all. A lot of us couldn’t access our emails in time to vote,” a final-year student explained.
This technical issue, combined with general voter apathy, further shrunk the voting population.
Beyond technology, there were also murmurs about how the presidential and vice-presidential pairing was selected. Some students believe the process lacked transparency and didn’t give a fair chance to other potential candidates.
“The pairing caused a lot of division. Many of us didn’t feel included or heard,” a second-year student said. “That alone discouraged several people from participating.”
Though Ashiatey and Afedzie now lead POSSA with a strong mandate from those who voted, they inherit more than just titles. They must now confront growing student apathy, rebuild trust, and improve transparency in the association’s dealings.
Students are calling for better communication, greater accountability, and a more inclusive approach to leadership.
As the dust settles, many are watching to see whether the new administration can rise above the skepticism and bring real change.
Source: Radio Univers
