The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) says it has at an emergency congress held in Accra last Saturrday passed a vote of no confidence and removed from office with immmediate effect its president, Anthony Abotsi Afriyie. The congress said Mr Afriyie was removed for taking decisions unilaterally contrary to the constitution of NUGS which states in Article 18 Section (a) that congress shall be the highest legislative and decision making organ. A statement issued to the press and signed by Alimatu Issahak, coordinating secretary and Patrick Adonoo, general secretary, said in line with Article 41 of the NUGS constitution, the general secretary, Mr Adonoo, assumes the post of the president. The statement notified all state institutions and the public that whoever transacts business with Mr Afriyie in the name of NUGS does so at their own risk and that NUGS would not be liable. It said congress had with immediate effect reversed the decision of the Central Committee asking the international relations secretary, Miss Benedicta Lasi and the general secretary, Mr Adonoo, to step aside as illegal, and asked that they should remain in office. The statement said the national officers had not been consulted before the appointment and swearing into office of the members of the Judiciary Board by Mr Afriyie. Article 54(b) of the NUGS constitution states: "Members of the Judiciary Board shall be appointed by the president in consultation with the National Secretariat and NEC with approval of the Central Committee," the statement said. The statement said Abubakari Seidu, a student of the University of Development Studies, who guaranteed for the union to secure a venue and feeding for the last congress in Wa, was facing challenges on campus as a result of the inability of the union to offset the debts incurred. It said congress has, therefore, charged the national secretariat to officially write to the university to accept responsibility of the debt. When contacted by the Times, Mr Afriyie said he still remains the president of NUGS, adding that what was said about him was "absolutely untrue." He said that "the so-called emergency gathering was illegal, as there has not been anything as emergency congress in NUGS." Mr Afriyie said he had followed the due process in forming the Judiciary Board in consultation with the National Executive Committee which he did on November 27, and described as baseless that he had gone against the constitution of NUGS. According to the embattled NUGS president, the so-called group calling the emergency congress of NUGS was supposed to have had the meeting at the Union office at the University of Ghana, but the authorities refused them permission because of the illegality of the gathering. Mr Afriyie said because they were bent on prosecuting their agenda, they quickly went to book for a place at GNAT Hall to carry out their illegality. Source: Ghanaian Times