A FRESH PAGE IN THE STUDENT MOVEMENT; THE RESOLVE OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (USAG)

A FRESH PAGE IN THE STUDENT MOVEMENT; THE RESOLVE OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (USAG)
Inevitable to every human endeavor is change and history proves that any society that yields not to change is doomed to irrelevance. it is with regard to this natural phenomenon, coupled with due cognizance of the precarious situation the student movement finds itself today, that the University Students' Association of Ghana made a choice for a paradigm shift, a choice that will extricate us from the quagmire of irrelevance we currently find ourselves and strategically place us on a pedestal where we can proffer cogent solutions to the myriad of teething challenges that confront our education and nation. This we believe will have rippling effects on our development and the shape of our future.
The interference of major political actors in what transpires within the rank and file of the student movement, and the consequent deterioration of our ability to question activities of government and political parties that constitute a bane for the underdevelopment and destitution of the majority of our people has never been a secret. We the University Students' Association of Ghana therefore believe that, in as much as there exists a symbiotic relationship between policy makers and the student movement, clear demarcations must be outlined between the individual responsibilities. To this end, we are ready to dig dip into our conscience and garner all the values and principles at our disposal in accomplishing the reason we were given the mandate to serve Ghanaian University students.
Again, the reluctance of policy makers in enacting policies and programmes to ameliorate the current social problems as well the inefficiency of agencies tasked to guide and inject some improvement into our educational system shall constitute issues in our every discussion. In this regard we are prepared to partner Civil Service Organizations (CSOs), Think Tank groups and other relevant stakeholders to find solutions to these problems. Prime to research areas will be the areas of graduate unemployment, funding of University education and the topical issue of academic accreditation. These problems, we believe, when given the necessary permanent solutions will give solace to other areas of national concern like economic growth and poverty eradication.
We further wish to state, without any iota of ambiguity, that we will question and make our voices known on salient issues that constitute the coordinates of our development as well as demand an a appraisal by the appropriate institutions and agencies about any cloudy development or action. This we believe will not only procure the student movement some relevance and astuteness but also give our development the best shape. Our role cannot be overemphasized, hence any person or group of persons who wishes to side step us will receive the sternest of fight backs. We dully also realize that, the polarity of our political system makes it difficult to adequately criticize or commend government without been tagged, however, it is only those who care not about the development of our nation who sit on the fence, and history has no place for such individuals. That will therefore not discourage us in our strife.
In conclusion, USAG has resolved to be a marked departure from the current disposition of the student movement and we dare say, we will do everything within our power to draw leverage back to the University student, who constitutes the best bet of the nation going forward.

Gbiel Patrick Walter

Information and International Relations Secretary,
University Students Association of Ghana (USAG).