Obiri-Adjei Michael, a former Student Representative Council (SRC) President of the University for Development Studies and SRC President hopeful of the Ghana School of Law, has emerged as the most preferred candidate ahead of this year’s GSL SRC elections, scheduled for Tuesday, 29th and Wednesday, 30th April 2025.
This is according to polls co-conducted by Voting Center and Elections Hub, two organisations that conduct opinion polls.
The poll results, released by Dr. Agontaaala Mamud and Dr. Abeam Amankwah Gyawu, research leads for the two organisations, saw Obiri-Adjei polling 42.4%, followed by Nana Opoku Ware with 29.3%. Festus Matey, a former student of GIMPA, came third with 14.1%, followed by Benjamin Ofei-Addo and Emmanuella Tetteh-Ashong.
The polls, conducted electronically, received responses from all four campuses of the school. The questions answered questions relating to the choice of candidate, candidate policies, and factors affecting the choice, among other things.
The poll respondents were predominantly male (58.6%), with female respondents comprising 38.7%. The polls further illustrate that the UPSA campus has the highest number of respondents (40.8%), followed by the Makola Campus (24.1%), GIMPA (21.5%), and Kumasi (13.6%).
Key Priorities
The polls found that the key priorities that will influence students’ choice of candidate are result-oriented leadership (70.7%), advocacy (55.9%), feasible policies (55.3%), interpersonal relationships (53.2%), among others.
It also found that voters in the election are primarily focused on candidates who can deliver tangible results and demonstrate key leadership competencies.
The data further highlight that many voters have already aligned with a preferred candidate, but a substantial percentage remains potentially persuadable, especially between the top two contenders, Michael Obiri-Adjei and Nana Opoku Ware.
The researchers noted that the poll results highlight key strategic implications for the candidates ahead of the election. For example, the research indicated that Michael Obiri-Adjei needs to focus on maintaining and solidifying the lead, concentrating campaign efforts on voter mobilisation, and reinforcing key strengths.
Previous Polls
A previous poll released by the CK Analytics team on 15th March 2025, which surveyed Part 1 students on GSL campuses about the 2025 SRC Presidential Elections, saw Festus Martey in a commanding lead, followed by Opoku Ware. The poll, however, found Obiri-Adjei to be the second most popular candidate, even though the popularity did not translate into votes.
Later, on 16th April 2025, CK Analytics released another poll which had Opoku Ware in the lead.
The survey, which sampled views from students of all four campuses of the Ghana School of Law, found Nana Opoku Ware leading with 26%, Festus Matey 22%, Obiri-Adjei Michael 15%, Benjamin Ofei-Addo 12%, and Emmanuella Tetteh-Ashong 6%.
Instructively, all the poll results came before the candidates officially unveiled their manifestos, the manifesto reading, and the presidential debate.
According to the new polls, Obiri-Adjei’s campaign has been boosted following the release of his policies, which many students believe are pragmatic and smart enough to address their current concerns.
Policies
Obiri-Adjei Michael has released an eight-point manifesto that focuses on financial prudence, transparency, and accountability; enhancing communication and bridging the information gap; strengthening the student scholarship scheme; professional development and networking opportunities; student welfare and well-being; empowering academic excellence, student affairs and support; governance and advocacy; and affirmative action.
Among other things, he has committed to a minimum of 40% appointment of women into all committees, commissions, and boards of the SRC; amending the SRC constitution to make provision for a Gender Commissioner who will be vested with the mandate to address issues uniquely related to women; and implementing the Legal Babies & Pregnancy Project — a compassionate initiative designed to support pregnant students, especially those who give birth during examination periods.
He also intends to advocate a special re-sit opportunity with no penalties for any student who gives birth during or just before exams.
He has also committed to ensuring that all SRC procurements are advertised to members of GSL and conducted through competitive bidding, unless such procurement forms part of the exceptions envisaged by the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended by Act 914.
He also plans to launch a new framework with seed money to establish a scholarship fund, establish partnerships with the GBA, corporate organisations, NGOs, and alumni to secure additional funding and resources, and support students through partnerships with existing student scholarship schemes and the Student Loan Trust Fund.
He has also promised to commit to empowering career development and networking opportunities that prepare students for success in their chosen careers. He believes that together, we can create a supportive ecosystem that fosters growth, connection, and professional advancement.
Given this, he plans to host career fairs, networking events, and industry workshops, bring together law firms, NGOs, government agencies, and other industry stakeholders under one roof, and develop a student–professional mentoring programme to foster relationships between mentors and mentees.
This will include a monitoring and evaluation component to ensure the effectiveness of the programme. He also intends to liaise with foreign universities, organisations, and unions such as the International Law Students Association and NUGS in the diaspora, to seek foreign partnerships that create opportunities for students to participate in exchange programmes, fellowships, internships, and scholarship opportunities.
Furthermore, he aims to develop a comprehensive policy to establish partnerships with law firms, NGOs, and government agencies, to provide students with career internships, pupillage, and job opportunities.
The SRC shall collaborate with industry experts to offer comprehensive resources, including CV and cover letter writing guides, interview preparation materials, and pupillage application tips to our Part II students even before being called to the Bar.
About Obiri-Adjei Michael
Obiri-Adjei Michael holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University for Development Studies and a Bachelor of Laws from GIMPA. He was the SRC President of UDS Navrongo from 2016–2017.
Other positions held include Upper East Volunteers Coordinator for Legacy & Legacy, Springboard Roadshow; Upper East Schools Coordinator for Ghana International Model UN (GIMUN); Student Member of the University Guidance and Counselling Unit, UDS Navrongo, among others.
