AUCB Graduates’ Lawyers Demand Classifications, Bio-Data Processing,Threaten Injunction
Lawyers representing dozens of concerned graduates of the African University of Communication and Business (AUCB), formerly the African University College of Communications (AUCC), have threatened to sue the university over what they describe as discriminatory treatment in the publication of graduation lists for students seeking University of Ghana (UG) certificates.
They are also demanding that the university formally transmit the complete academic particulars to the Registrar and Academic Affairs Directorate of the University of Ghana without further administrative delay.
In a letter submitted to AUCB management on Tuesday, October 20, the graduates’ solicitors, Freshfields Law Consult, are demanding that the university republish the graduation list for students opting for UG certification with their full academic particulars, including index numbers, programmes and degree classifications.
The lawyers argue that AUCB’s October 6 publication treated graduates seeking UG certificates differently from those who opted for AUCB certificates by omitting their academic performance details and degree classifications.
They have given management seven days from receipt of the letter to comply, warning that failure to do so will trigger legal proceedings at the High Court, including an application to restrain AUCB from holding its 23rd congregation scheduled for October 31.
The latest development adds another dimension to the prolonged certification dispute involving the 2022/2023 admission cohort, which was admitted when AUCC operated under an affiliation arrangement with the University of Ghana.
Lawyers allege unequal treatment
In the letter addressed to the AUCB Vice-Chancellor, the solicitors say their clients brought to their attention two graduation publications issued by the university’s Academic Registry: one for graduates receiving AUCB certificates and another for those seeking University of Ghana certification.
According to the lawyers, the AUCB certification list included students’ index numbers, full names, departments or schools, and degree classifications, including First Class and Second-Class honours.
However, they allege that the corresponding publication for graduates seeking UG certificates omitted their academic performance details, cumulative grade point averages and class designations, leaving only an unformatted list of names.
The solicitors describe the disparity as unfair and discriminatory, arguing that students who selected UG certification should not be disadvantaged in the presentation of their academic achievements because of their certification choice.
They further allege that the omission could undermine the graduates’ academic standing and amount to an attempt to pressure them into abandoning their preference for University of Ghana certificates.
Dispute over affiliation arrangement
The dispute stems from the certification arrangements applicable to students admitted during the 2022/2023 academic year, when the institution operated as AUCC under its affiliation with the University of Ghana.
The affected graduates maintain that their certification options should be respected under the arrangements governing their admission, while AUCB has since become an autonomous degree-awarding institution following the grant of a Presidential Charter in December 2024.
In an earlier response to the students’ petition, the University of Ghana stated that students admitted to AUCC under the affiliation arrangement remained governed by its terms and conditions for the duration of their programmes.
UG also stated that students admitted during the 2022/2023 academic year who satisfy all academic requirements would be eligible for certificates issued under its seal.
AUCB subsequently communicated that students could choose between AUCB and UG certification, with those opting for UG certificates to be processed for a subsequent University of Ghana graduation ceremony.
The graduates’ latest complaint, however, focuses on the information published about their academic achievements and the transmission of their records, rather than solely on which institution will issue their certificates.
October 31 congregation faces possible legal challenge
Under the latest demand, AUCB has seven days from receipt of the letter to comply. The lawyers say they will proceed to court without further notice if management fails or refuses to meet the demands.
Among the remedies they intend to seek are declarations that the October 6 publication was discriminatory and unfair, orders compelling AUCB to publish the complete academic particulars, and an interlocutory injunction restraining the university from holding its October 31 congregation until the graduates’ academic profiles are properly published and transmitted.
They are also seeking substantial damages and legal costs should the matter proceed to litigation.
The letter has also been copied to the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the University of Ghana, the Chairman of AUCB’s Governing Council, and the university ’s Dean of Student Affairs.
AUCB’s response to the allegations and demands in the letter was not available at the time of publishing.