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The outgoing president of the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS), Joyland Dedey Mensah, has been sued at the High Court in Accra over a dispute surrounding the union’s recent presidential election.
The suit was filed by Eunice Esi Esaaba Essien and her manager, Anum Alfred Adjetey, against Ms. Mensah, GUPS, and Kwaku Appiah Boakye, described in the suit as another president-elect.
The plaintiffs are seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that Ms. Essien is the validly elected president of GUPS and that the election held on December 21, 2025, which elected Mr. Boakye, is null and void.
They are also demanding the recovery of GH¢35,000 allegedly paid as institutional dues and congress expenses, together with interest at the prevailing commercial rate.
In addition, the plaintiffs are asking the court to restrain the third defendant from holding himself out as GUPS president and to stop individuals involved in what they describe as an illegal election from acting in any official capacity.
According to the statement of claim, Mr. Adjetey paid the GH¢35,000 on behalf of Ms. Essien and was issued 20 receipts, after assurances that the election would be held the same day.
The plaintiffs allege the election was later postponed, their request for a refund was refused, and they were instructed to find a new venue at their own cost after an earlier venue was said to be unapproved.
They claim to have secured permission from Knustford University to hold the election, but the outgoing president later wrote to postpone it, prompting disputes on the day of voting.
Despite attempts to halt the process, the election went ahead, Ms. Essien was declared president, and the plaintiffs say subsequent public statements by the outgoing president were aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the results.
