The Interim Chairman of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ), Bernard Afful Ansah, is facing intense pressure from his fellow executives and the wider student body to refund GHC7,500 he allegedly diverted for personal use.
Mr. Ansah, in a letter cited by Metro TV Online, admitted to using the money for urgent surgery after suffering fractures to his arm in an accident. He explained that the money had initially been earmarked for a student-centred initiative under his office but was redirected due to his health emergency.
“I had no choice but to prioritise my health so that I could continue to serve you,” he wrote, defending his decision as an act of necessity. He further assured students that receipts and medical records would be made available for audit.
However, the SRC executives have strongly rejected his explanation. In a clarification statement, interim Financial Secretary Emmanuel Nyarku Quarshie stressed that the money was never approved for medical purposes.
Instead, GHC4,500 had been released for a program under the president’s office called “Vibes and Velvet,” while GHC3,000 was meant to be deposited into the SRC account for the upcoming SRC Week. Neither was executed as planned.
“The expectation was that this deposit would raise the balance in the SRC account to GHC10,279.17,” the statement read.
“Unfortunately, the program was not carried out, and the GHC3,000 was not lodged into the SRC account. At no point did the SRC approve funds for medical expenses.”
The dispute has revived earlier allegations of financial misconduct against Mr. Ansah, dating back to his days as a student leader. Students recalled failed initiatives such as “Echoes of Leadership” and “Elevated Minds,” for which he allegedly collected membership fees but delivered little.
The controversy has revived old allegations against Mr. Ansah, who is known on campus as “Kofi Nyamekye.” Some students recall earlier claims that he collected dues for clubs and projects that never materialised, leaving students frustrated.
“In January 2024, during orientation, he introduced a club called “Echoes of Leadership. He claimed that to join, each student had to pay GH¢70. According to him, the club would organize trips across Africa, and all a member needed for travel was a Ghana Card. Later, it was discovered that none of these claims were true, leaving many students’ victims of false promises.
In addition, he collected GH¢40 from some students for another group he founded called “Elevated Minds.” This initiative was supposed to help students improve their GPA. However, he only met the participants occasionally, and the promised academic support never materialized.” One student alleged
Frustrated by what they describe as repeated acts of mismanagement, some students are now pushing for the Dean of Students and university management to block Mr. Ansah from graduating until he refunds the money.
“His certificate must be withheld to serve as a deterrent to any SRC executive who takes students for a ride,” one student told Metrotvonline.
The SRC leadership has assured students that measures will be taken to protect funds and enforce accountability as the matter unfolds.
Meanwhile, calls for Mr. Ansah’s immediate refund of the money remain firm as tensions grow on various students’ WhatApp platforms.
