On July 25, 2025, Dery Elijah, a disqualified aspirant in the 2025 KNUST SRC Presidential race, issued a formal statement addressed to the student body, alleging serious breaches in both academic data confidentiality and the fairness of the electoral process. His petition, which had earlier been submitted to the Directorate of Student Affairs (DoSA), was rooted in what he described as "unfair disqualification" and "procedural injustice" that denied him the opportunity to contest.
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| Dery and his team at CCB |
According to his statement, Dery made several efforts to access his academic results ahead of the SRC nomination period, particularly due to delays in the release of results by his College. Despite these efforts, he claims he was repeatedly informed that the College Board had not approved the results, only for them to be released less than 24 hours before nominations officially opened.
The controversy, however, stems from the fact that as early as July 3—nearly two weeks before the official release—images of his academic results were already circulating on WhatsApp platforms. These results, which showed a CWA of 58 and one trail, automatically disqualified him from contesting the elections under the current SRC constitutional requirements.
More troubling for the aspirant is that the version of the results circulated prematurely turned out to be identical to what was eventually published in his student portal. He maintains that this represents a serious breach of academic data confidentiality and calls for a formal investigation into how individuals gained unauthorized access to his personal academic records before their official release.
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| Elijah Dery |
In his quest for clarification, Dery contacted the lecturer of the course in question and subsequently engaged both the Exams Office and his Head of Department. Despite this, he reports that no verification or formal explanation was ever provided. Feeling unsupported, he submitted a petition to DoSA, requesting that he be allowed to contest the election while an investigation was carried out. The petition was received by the Deputy Director for Conduct and Discipline, Professor Akwasi Acheampong Aning.
However, as of the date of his public letter, balloting had already ended, and the list of approved aspirants had been finalized—without his name. He was reportedly advised to apply for a remarking of the alleged trailed course, but this process would only conclude after the election period, rendering any redress effectively moot.
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— KNUST NEWS FILE (@knustnewsfile) May 22, 2025
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In outlining the basis for his petition, Dery raised three main concerns:
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Breach of Access Rights: He asserts that he was denied timely access to his academic records, a right guaranteed under the KNUST Student Guide.
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Violation of Data Privacy: He cites Ghana’s Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), arguing that the unauthorized release and circulation of his academic information was illegal and occurred without his consent.
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Compromised Electoral Fairness: He emphasizes that the timing of the results release—just under 24 hours before nominations—did not afford him sufficient time to seek redress, appeal, or confirm accuracy, particularly in the context of a constitutionally disqualifying grade.
The statement has stirred conversation on campus, with many students expressing concern over the implications of data breaches and fairness in the electoral process. It also raises broader questions about transparency, student rights, and the responsibilities of academic and electoral institutions within the university.
After a series of defining moments where aspirants faced the vetting panel and responded to critical questions, the official vetting results have been released.
— KNUST NEWS FILE (@knustnewsfile) July 27, 2025
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As it stands, the SRC elections are moving ahead without Dery Elijah on the ballot. Vetting of the remaining aspirants in the race has already taken place and the elections drawing closer. Whether further action will be taken by the university administration or the Electoral Commission remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the issues raised in his petition are likely to fuel ongoing debate about student data governance, due process, and the credibility of student leadership structures at KNUST.
Dear Knust, it is with a broken spirit that I have been unfairly asked to step aside from continuing my second coming for this year SRC presidential election without any proper investigation or clarification into an issue that questions the credibility of my results. 💔 pic.twitter.com/TlYrFTWZzN
— DERY ELIJAH (@DeryElijah_) July 25, 2025
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