Students of the University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ) are expressing deep anger, disappointment, and dissatisfaction following the release of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) financial report for the 2024/2025 academic year.
The document, released after months of pressure through a Right to Information (RTI) request by a level 200 student, Daniel Sterling Fiawonu with encouragement from Moses Desire and support from the school’s information officer, Mr. Asare-Opoku Jedidiah has sparked heated discussions across students’ WhatsApp platforms, with many accusing the interim SRC executives of mismanaging funds and prioritising wasteful spending over students’ needs.
The Opening Balance
According to the report, the SRC began the academic year with an opening balance of ₵52,405.52, made up of ₵14,837.52 left behind by the Fati-Adomako-led administration and ₵37,568.00 in student dues collected before the start of the year.
By the second semester, after retrieving ₵170,975.00 from discrepancies identified in the first semester, the account balance improved significantly to ₵223,380.52.
First Semester Spending
A large portion of the first semester’s budget was directed towards Akwaaba Week, which cost ₵36,900. The report lists line-by-line expenses, including:
• Refreshments & citations – ₵7,700
• Games & Gyama Night – ₵3,900
• Cooking Competition – ₵2,900
• Media Tour for 300 students – ₵6,100
• IJ Got Talent – ₵5,200
• Movie Night – ₵2,300
• DJs, MCs, sound & security – ₵8,800
• Contracts & other obligations – ₵8,000
Additional costs included graphic design (₵1,500), photography (₵3,000), and refunds of school fees for two students (₵3,500).
In total, the first semester’s expenditure stood at ₵44,900.
Second Semester Spending
The second semester budget was even more controversial. Expenditure highlights include:
• SRC Week – ₵41,900 (Sports Festival – ₵4,200; Artiste Night – ₵35,000; Fufu Party – ₵2,700)
• Souvenirs – ₵120,000 (Lacoste shirts – ₵75,000; Notepads – ₵22,500; Brooches – ₵22,500)
• Allowances – ₵9,000 for six SRC executives
• Office expenses – ₵4,300 for locks, fans, wiring, and workmanship
• Other expenditures – ₵11,540, covering wrong fee payments, Entercom support, and graphic design
Additionally, ₵7,500 was redirected to the office of the interim president for an initiative. The report, however, stated that if the project does not materialise, the funds will be returned to the SRC account.
At the end of all activities, the SRC closed the year with a balance of ₵7,279.17.
Students Demand Explanations
The report has triggered widespread disappointment among students, many of whom questioned the rationale behind spending so heavily on events, entertainment, and souvenirs while neglecting pressing student concerns.
“We deserve a proper breakdown and justification of these expenses. Some of these figures are outrageous,” one student wrote.
Another lamented:
“₵120,000 on t-shirts, notepads, and brooches? This is unacceptable. What benefit did students really get from that?”
Women’s Commission Financed Its Own Projects
Interestingly, the financial report revealed that all events organised by the Women’s Commission were funded either through personal contributions of the Commissioner or external sponsorships, meaning no student funds were used. Events included International Women’s Day celebrations, a sanitary pad donation drive, peer counseling sessions, Women’s Week, and the Femfound entrepreneurship programme.
The commissioner reportedly contributed over ₵12,530 from her own funds, secured ₵9,000 in sponsorships, and spent a total of ₵21,530 on initiatives that directly benefited students.
This revelation deepened students’ frustration, with many arguing that while the Women’s Commissioner sacrificed her own resources, the SRC executives were busy spending huge sums of students’ dues on “lavish entertainment and allowances.”
Distrust in the SRC
Despite their anger, some students expressed doubt that their concerns would lead to any meaningful change.
“We can complain all we want, but nothing will change. Just like politicians, they promise transparency but never deliver,” a student remarked, capturing the growing cynicism within the student body.
What Next?
Students are now demanding that the interim financial organizer and chairman provide a detailed explanation of the report and account for every major expenditure. Many believe that only a transparent and honest breakdown will restore any measure of trust in the SRC’s leadership.
Until then, the financial report has left a bitter aftertaste, with many students feeling that their dues have been mishandled, and that the SRC is slowly mirroring the same lack of accountability often associated with national politics.
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