The National Secretariat of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) has appealed to the national leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to intervene following reports that former TEIN executives have been disqualified from contesting regional executive positions in various regions.
In an appeal addressed to the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, through the General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, the National TEIN Coordinator, Dr Mohammed Sadiq Gombilla, expressed concern over the reported exclusion of aspirants because their previous executive experience was within TEIN rather than at the constituency level.
Dr Gombilla said the issue extended beyond individual aspirants and raised fundamental questions about the recognition of TEIN leadership experience within the party’s organisational structures.
He noted that TEIN executives performed significant political and electoral duties, including recruiting members, coordinating campaigns and mobilising voters across polling stations.
According to him, these responsibilities required sustained leadership, discipline and collaboration with constituency, regional and national executives. He added that TEIN leaders undertook the work alongside their academic commitments, often using personal resources to advance the party’s interests.
The appeal highlighted TEIN’s contribution to the NDC’s performance in the 2024 general elections, arguing that campus mobilisation helped strengthen the party’s support among students and translate that support into votes.
Dr Gombilla maintained that the commitment and sacrifices of former TEIN executives deserved meaningful recognition when they sought opportunities to serve at regional and national levels.
He questioned why a party member without previous executive experience could qualify to contest a constituency position, while a former TEIN executive could be denied the opportunity to contest a regional position solely because they had not held constituency office.
While acknowledging the responsibility of vetting committees to apply approved electoral regulations, Dr Gombilla called for urgent intervention to address the reported exclusions consistently across all regions.
He warned that failure to recognise TEIN service could undermine the confidence of current campus executives and encourage them to prioritise branch and constituency positions at the expense of their responsibilities within tertiary institutions.
Such a development, the appeal argued, could weaken campus mobilisation and place additional pressure on constituency executives to sustain the party’s activities among students.
Dr Gombilla therefore urged the Functional Executive Committee to review the cases of all aspirants disqualified solely because their executive experience was gained through TEIN, and to take the necessary steps to allow them to contest, subject to meeting all other eligibility requirements.
He also called for clear and uniform guidelines on the recognition of qualifying TEIN executive service for eligibility to contest regional and national leadership positions, as well as timely decisions on appeals lodged by affected candidates.
The Coordinator stressed that the Secretariat was seeking a fair opportunity for former campus leaders to present themselves to delegates, who would ultimately determine their suitability for office.
He expressed solidarity with the affected aspirants and encouraged them to pursue the prescribed appeal procedures. He also urged current TEIN executives to remain committed to their duties while the Secretariat pursued a resolution.
The appeal maintained that a timely response from the party’s leadership would help restore confidence that service through TEIN is valued and provides a meaningful pathway to greater responsibility within the NDC.