The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Chapter, has accused the institute’s management of deliberately withholding student funds, describing the move as a calculated attempt to frustrate its programmes and undermine student-led initiatives.
In a statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, the Association said the alleged financial obstruction had crippled several of its flagship events, including the 24-Hour Economy Public Lecture and the Women’s Empowerment Summit, both of which were central to this year’s GRASAG Week celebrations.
“Repeated letters and follow-ups have not yielded any results,” the statement read. “The timing and persistence of these financial restrictions suggest a calculated effort to sabotage GRASAG–GIMPA’s initiatives and silence critical student-led engagements that promote empowerment and intellectual development.”
The Association revealed that despite the financial constraints, its executives had continued to operate using their own limited resources to sustain core activities and uphold their constitutional responsibilities.
The GRASAG–GIMPA leadership also used the statement to defend its Patron, Professor Wisdom Akpalu, and the Registrar, Dr Victoria Mwinsumah Puoyeng Kunbuor, against what it described as “malicious and fabricated claims” circulated by unnamed individuals seeking to discredit their integrity.
The Association dismissed as false reports suggesting that Dr Puoyeng Kunbuor was a signatory to its bank account, describing such claims as “baseless, inaccurate, and deliberately designed to cause confusion.”
“All financial transactions are carried out in full compliance with banking and institutional regulations,” the statement clarified, alleging that certain individuals within the Institute were attempting to “undermine honest leadership and install a more compromised Patron who would permit the misuse of student funds.”
GRASAG–GIMPA further accused some senior lecturers of lobbying to be appointed as Patron of the Association a move it described as unethical and detrimental to the independence of student leadership.
The statement praised Professor Akpalu for his “impeccable integrity, competence, and devotion to public service.” It highlighted several initiatives undertaken under his advisory leadership, including the establishment of the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund in 2021 with a seed capital of GH¢50,000 to support financially challenged students.
It also credited him with facilitating the provision of study rooms furnished with modern facilities and helping to set up a Business Centre that provides subsidised printing and academic services to students.
GRASAG–GIMPA urged GIMPA Management to immediately release all outstanding student funds, including arrears from previous academic years, and to refrain from actions that “stifle academic freedom, student welfare, and progressive leadership.”
The Association reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and democratic governance, adding that preparations were underway to hold elections for new executives as the tenure of the current leadership ends in November.
In conclusion, GRASAG–GIMPA expressed solidarity with Professor Akpalu and Dr Victoria Mwinsumah Puoyeng Kunbuor, apologising to them for the “fabricated allegations” made by what it called a few individuals with vested interests.
“GRASAG–GIMPA remains devoted to truth, transparency, and the continued growth of the GIMPA community,” the statement concluded.
The statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRASAG-GIMPA DEFENDS PROF AKPALU’S IMPECCABLE INTEGRITY, BLAMES MANAGEMENT FOR WITHHOLDING FUNDS
ACCRA; OCTOBER 21, 2025: The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana(GRASAG), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration(GIMPA) Chapter, has read with disgust and utter disappointment an article published by a few students hiding behind anonymity to mislead the public about the association’s financial operations and discredit its Patron, Professor Wisdom Akpalu, whose integrity is unmatched at GIMPA.
GRASAG–GIMPA wishes to set the record straight and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership.
Prof. Akpalu’s record on integrity and visionary leadership
Professor Wisdom Akpalu is an internationally respected academic, noted for his honesty, impeccable integrity, competence, and devotion to public service. Having left a senior position at the United Nations to serve in Ghana, he demonstrates outstanding commitment to building strong academic institutions and empowering students.
Under his advisory leadership, GRASAG–GIMPA made significant progress, including the establishment of the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund in 2021, launched by the founding executives with GH¢50,000 seed capital and governed by a Board of Trustees. The Fund remains the first of its kind in GIMPA’s history, with 20% of annual student dues allocated to support financially challenged graduate students.
Additionally, through Prof. Akpalu’s advisory role, GIMPA Management released office space for study rooms and GRASAG–GIMPA furnished these study rooms with modern desks and chairs to improve the learning environment. He also played a key role in the association establishing a Business Centre that subsidises printing and academic services for students; a move that continues to ease the financial burden on the graduate community.
Falsehoods about the registrar and financial governance
The association strongly refutes recent claims that Dr Victoria Mwinsumah Puoyeng Kunbuor, GIMPA’s Registrar, is a signatory to the GRASAG–GIMPA bank account. These claims, engineered by certain faceless individuals within the Institute, are baseless, inaccurate, and deliberately designed to cause confusion.
For clarity, Dr. Puoyeng Kunbour is not a signatory to the association’s account. All financial transactions are carried out in full compliance with banking and institutional regulations. These malicious rumours appear to be part of a broader scheme to undermine honest leadership and install a more compromised Patron who would permit the misuse of student funds.
It is particularly concerning that some senior lecturers have approached the association’s executives lobbying to be appointed as a Patron, a move that undermines ethical governance and the independence of student leadership.
Deliberate sabotage through the withholding of student funds
GRASAG–GIMPA expresses deep frustration over the unjustified withholding of student funds by GIMPA Management, which includes monies collected during the last academic year and arrears from previous years. Repeated letters and follow-ups have not yielded any results.
This deliberate financial obstruction has crippled several flagship programmes, including:
a). The 24-Hour Economy Public Lecture, a major policy dialogue designed to advance national economic discourse; and
b). The Women’s Empowerment Summit, a key event in the GRASAG Week Celebration at which renowned Human Rights Advocate and Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) at the Presidency, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo (Esq.), was scheduled to speak.
The timing and persistence of these financial restrictions suggest a calculated effort to sabotage GRASAG–GIMPA’s initiatives and silence critical student-led engagements that promote empowerment and intellectual development.
In the face of these challenges, the GRASAG-GIMPA executives have been running the association with their own limited resources, sustaining core operations and upholding the association’s constitutional responsibilities without institutional financial support.
Commitment to democratic governance and institutional independence
The current executives of GRASAG–GIMPA, who were duly elected, remain fully committed to constitutional governance, transparency, and service to students. Preparations are underway to conduct free and fair elections to usher in new leadership, in line with the association’s constitution, as the tenure of the current executives expires by the end of November.
GRASAG–GIMPA also reaffirms that it will not tolerate interference in its internal affairs by any institutional or external actors, and urges all parties to respect the association’s autonomy and democratic structures.
Conclusion
The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana, GIMPA Chapter, stands firmly behind Professor Wisdom Akpalu and Dr Puoyeng Kunbuor, whose integrity and service to the Institute are beyond question. On behalf of GRASAG-GIMPA, we would like to apologise to them for the made-up allegations levelled against them by a few members of the Association with vested interests.
The Association calls on GIMPA Management to immediately release all outstanding student funds and desist from actions that stifle academic freedom, student welfare, and progressive leadership.
GRASAG–GIMPA remains devoted to truth, transparency, and the continued growth of the GIMPA community.
Long Live GIMPA!
Long Live GRASAG-GIMPA!!
Long Live Ghana!!!
Signed by:
Ms Celestina Adu
Central President- GRASAG GIMPA
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