Accountability in Student Leadership

The National Union of Ghana Students of old, has contributed immensely to the Educational, Political, social, and Economic development of Ghana. The contribution of NUGS to the development of mother Ghana is so great so that the history of Ghana cannot be written without mention of NUGS. In addition, almost all Leaders of this country have passed through the mills of NUGS knowingly or unknowingly. And so the Accountability of NUGS affects not only the student fraternity of Ghana, Africa and the World but also to our National and International Politics. Currently, the Secretary General of the All African Students Union (AASU) is from NUGS, A great number of our Ministers of State have drunk from the big breast of NUGS, Innovations like the GETFund, The Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) and other very important political reforms have been machinated by the Union, and so there is a need to ensure that NUGS will work again

The Discipleship tools define accountability as a check and balance system to protect us from harm from ourselves and others. We do this by being open to what we are thinking and doing so we can receive encouragement and reproof, when needed.

TYPES OF ACCOUNTABILITY·         Christian Accountability·         Political Accountability·         Ethical Accountability (Within a corporate organization)·         Administrative Accountability (For Civil Servants)·         Individual Accountability in Organizations·         Academic/Educational Accountability (For Students, Parents and School Authorities)·         Financial Accountability·         Social Accountability, etc.

Today, I want to sum all these into what I prefer to call Leadership Accountability, which is a mechanism put in place voluntarily to render to the people we serve, the product of the services rendered to them, the need to continue or discontinue the rendering of such services, and take the necessary corrective measures which is referred to in management as Controlling.

REASONS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

1.       Lightens the load. You will still have to do the work, but you'll have someone to help with the mental and emotional struggles. That is a major benefit because some of the biggest challenges reside in your thoughts and feelings. A good accountability partner will understand yet inspire you to overcome difficulties.
2.      Keeps you on track. When you have a form of accountability then it is easier to stay on task with your work. If you report back to your accountability partner with the wrong type of results he will see that. He can make you aware of the discrepancies so that you can make the necessary adjustments. We tend to get so deep into our work that we don't see when we have strayed off track. An accountability partner is more removed from the fray. It is easier for him to recount what your original intentions were in order to keep you on target.3.      Compels you to honor your word. Having accountability forces you to do what you said you were going to do. It gives you a reason to do the daily tasks that your goal requires. Just knowing that you are going to report to someone is enough to make us keep at until we get the work done. We don't want to say, "I know I told you I was going to do this but I did not do it." If we know we are going to be held accountable then we do it. We don't let ourselves off the hook. We know that there is someone else involved and we don't want to let them down. (Anthony D. Carter)4.      For Rewards and Punishments. Accountability is holding that person's actions up for inspection and, if they are found to be "out of line" as regards what is allowed, then that person is subject to penalties for those actions that were outside the law, and if they have performed creditably well, then rewards may be given.

WHAT ROLE SHOULD NUGS PLAY IN ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY

By reason of brevity, I we shall discuss four (4) important issues in ensuring accountability in our beloved student fraternity.1.      Selection of Leadership2.      Administration3.      Policies4.      Education and Training

1.      LEADERSHIP

Fortunately, the leadership of NUGS is elected by student leaders who have been carefully elected or appointed in accordance with local campus constitutions by respected students at the Tertiary and Secondary levels respectively. This should have reflected a very intellectual electoral college who should be able to interrogate candidates and choose the best of the best, who have been tried, tested, and approved by different levels of our student leadership ladder and proven to be competent and efficient in the discharge of the immense workload of student leadership in Ghana.However Mr. Chairman, permit me to say that, for some time now, I have been continuously disappointed by the quality of personnel elected by student leaders in Ghana to handle the affairs of NUGS. It is disappointing to see Ghanaian students needing help all over the world and having no strong leaders or strong institution in NUGS to stand firm and fight the defense of the defenseless. However, there have been some exceptional leaders who in my opinion, have been exceptional in the discharge of their duties as student leaders.The fact is if the personnel elected/appointed to handle the mantle of student leadership are not of the required ‘quality’ then getting the work done efficiently and effectively will become a herculean task.I believe that, the first agent of accountability for student leadership is the one who has the power to vote. Therefore, dear future leaders, and partners to national development, when you go to the pools to vote leaders for our beloved NUGS as well as SRC, Local NUGS, or Hall executives; do not be blinded by petty-partisan-pleasures, or of family, old school associations, or campus of affiliation, but rather, the competence of the personnel must come first, so that in case aspirants have the same level of competence, then these considerations may be made.

2.      ADMINISTRATION

NUGS should be able to lead the national student front by example, in this regard; there is a need to run NUGS as a professional organization rather than an association of boys and girls having fun. By this, I mean;1.      NUGS must have an office administrator to see to the day-to-day running of the Union whose office should be under the authority of the coordinating secretary; since NUGS is a going concern. Since I came to NUGS we have always had issues with the handing over of adequate documentation to ensure continuity and so we always have to start from the scratch again2.      There should be a properly trained Accountant in Business to supervise or support the professional preparation of financial  accounts to meet international standards, and that could help NUGS in attracting international sponsorship3.      There should also be a professional accountant in practice (An auditor) either external or internal to supervise the annual audit board to professionally audit the accounts of NUGS.4.      Also, in addition to national officers, there should also be appointed other leaders (For National Service for other offices like)a.       A Research Directorate, to be headed by a professional researcher as Research Directorb.      Transport officer to handle our transportation issuesc.       Accommodation officer to be in charge of a successive agenda to getting a permanent office and accommodation for National officers, when they are on national duty.d.      Director for Early Childhood Educatione.       Director for Basic Educationf.       Director for Secondary Educationg.      Director for Tertiary Education to coordinate the affairs of GUPS, USAG, ‘GNUPS’ PUSAG, and other relevant student groups in Ghanah.      Director for international education, for students on international scholarshipi.        Director for Public Affairs who shall act as director for the Press and Information Secretary who is the Minister for Communication for NUGSWhen this done, then we can convince corporate Ghana as well as other players in academia that we are poised as a strong institution and serve as an example to the Ghanaian student leadership fraternity.

3.      POLICIES

The following policies must also be put in place to ensure that the Union is standing on its good feet1.      The financial procedures manual must be updated, and as part of the manual, member institutions must present to NUGS every year its budget/financial statement at the beginning and close of the year to be certified by the appropriate School authority. When this is done, the issue as to overstating or understating the number of students will be a thing of the past and so the calculation of dues will become easy.2.      A resolution must be passed by member institutions in Good Standing whose dues pass through the school authorities to permit NUGS to receive their dues from source that is from the University itself. This will ensure that the Union is financially sound to undertake its obligations.3.      National Officers should insist that officers on National Service must be posted to NUGS because the workload is very high and requires full time officers to perform.

4.      EDUCATION AND TRAINING

NUGS should organize accountability and leadership workshops regularly for students and student leaders to enhance the quality of personnel in order to ensure accountability in the National student front.

CONCLUSION

Just like an independent state, students in Ghana have given their sovereignty to NUGS, therefore ensuring accountability in the student front, shaping student leaders across the country to become better partners to national development should be a priority for NUGS. There is a need for NUGS to restructure, and prepare herself for the modern day global economy. I believe that the days of ‘aluta’ are long gone, and these days, the use of professional administrative skills is what aids the governance of any group; but it looks like NUGS has not metamorphosed to the current trend of doing things. I believe that for NUGS to remain relevant for a foreseeable future period, and not become a useless entity in three years, meticulous steps towards a proper administered NUGS must be taken.

Thank You.

Orchill Prince DavidNUGS Representative to the National Youth Authority Board0249774457/0203244855nationalunionofghanastudents@gmail.com

KNUST Elections

THE SRC PRESIDENT
KNUST

Dear Sir,

REQUEST TO INTERDICT THE SRC ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER – MR. DAVID AWUAH-DONKOR

Events leading up to today’s SRC elections characterized with the postponement have given credence to our doubt whether the SRC Electoral Commissioner is COMPETENT enough to organize the SRC elections. In effect, we are calling on your outfit to SET HIM ASIDE or better put INTERDICT HIM, referencing that you are the appointing authority.

Moreover, his presence as Electoral Commissioner is a threat to a peaceful election on our campus devoid of litigation.

Notwithstanding, his INCOMPETENCE in organizing today’s elections on two separate occasions, he has by actions warranted the need for this call against him anchored on the following:

1. He in defiance to the SRC Judicial Council’s verdict opted to engage the College of Architecture and Planning (CAPSS) electoral Commissioner – Mr. Henry Agyemang (Casper) who apparently has been removed on grounds of judicial contempt.

2. To further his ‘course’, he has failed to release copies of the voter’s register to aspirants although such have been officially requested. This give reason for his notorious stance on the use of paper ballot rather than biometric.

3. Again, he unilaterally has refused to publish the Non-residential vetting results against protocol, the law and ethics even after over 1 week and have still arrogantly detained it in his ‘pocket’.

4. Furthermore, he, by a ‘tyrannical oparendi’ attempted to re-organize the Non-Residential vetting if not fiercely resisted by some concerned parties.

5. He also has by act sidelined the Non-Residential Electoral Commissioner and surgically prevented him from performing his functions as dictated by practice; blatantly hijacking the electoral processes just to satisfy his whims. In effect point (4).

6. Notwithstanding his demonstration of incompetence in failing to organize the SRC elections, he arrogantly failed to serve notice to the generality of the student populace of KNUST. Such can best be described as gross disrespect to the students of KNUST, making students thrive on rumors rather than credible information.
7. In effect, he constitutionally, article 32 1(e) states that an executive who individually or severally conduct himself in a manner which brings or is likely to bring the name of the SRC into disrepute constitutes grounds for impeachment or suspension.

In line with the above, we call on your outfit to immediately interdict him since his acts so far have proven to constitute INCOMPETENCE. Again, his presence amongst other rumors of corruption (although can’t be evidentially proven) makes him a threat to the outcome of the electoral results.

With his presence as Electoral Commissioner amidst the gross demonstration of incompetence in handling elections, there is no guarantee of his ability to organize a successful election. He has erred and so must be interdicted.

It is our prayer that you salvage the reputation of your administration by IMMEDIATELY INTERDICTING THE SRC ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER.

Yours in service to Students,

SIGNED

Paul Obeng Atiemo
George Asiedu Otchere
Kofi Arkoh

Cc:
Dean Of Students’
SRC Judicial Committee Chairman
SRC Legal Affairs Chairman
All notice Boards

WASSCE takes off smoothly

15 hours 48 minutes ago // News | WASSCE takes off smoothly

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 Final year Senior High School students who began their WASSCE today have expressed optimism about the month-long examinations because it started on a good footing.

A cross section of students Joy News’ Hannah Odame interacted with today expressed their general satisfaction with the conduct and questions of the oral English paper they wrote.

A few students however complained of some challenges ranging from difficulties in understanding the questions, audibility of the oral tapes as well as mix-up of index numbers.

“Even though the conversation was audible, it was difficult to understand what was being said” a student noted.

Another stated “it was difficult hearing the voices clearly because the speakers were blaring”.

These not withstanding, Hannah Odame reports the students are generally hopeful because they believe the examinations have started on a good footing.

Source: myjoyonline.com

Headmasters urged not to sack students owing fees from writing WASSCE

Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, Gomoa West District Chief Executive, has instructed headmasters in the district not to prevent any student from writing the on-going WASSCE because of the non-payment of fees.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah gave the instruction when he and Ms Florence Inkoom, District Director of Education, visited the schools of the district to find out how the WASSCE was being conducted.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah said the examination held the future of the students saying preventing the children from writing the examination could jeopardise their future for good.

“Students must not be made to suffer because of irresponsible behaviour of their parents who were expected to pay their children fees,” the DCE said.

“You will not be fair to the students if you do not allow them to write the examination,” he stressed.

Ms Inkoom appealed to the heads to allow the students to write the examination and a way would be found to sort things later.

The DCE and the District Director of Education visited Apam Senior High School (SHS) where 1,160 students made up the three-year and four-year course duration were writing the examination.

At Gomoa Dawurampong Senior High Technical School, 730 students from the two groups were writing the examination and at Gomoa Mozano, 889 candidates were writing the examination.

The examination was progressing smoothly during the visit. 

Source GNA @ http://vibeghana.com

UTAG Strike: NUGS demonstrates on Friday

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has threatened to hit the street to demonstrate against the government and their lecturers if a consensus is not reached between the two parties to pave way for the return of their teachers to the lecture theatres.

In a press release, the student body called on the stakeholders handling the salary issue of the lecturers- NLC, FWSC, Vice Chancellors, Education Ministry, Finance Ministry, leadership of UTAG- to consider the effects of the ongoing strike in the academic situation of students on various university campuses across the country.

According to the leadership of NUGS, they will resort to demonstrating against the government if an amicable ground is not arrived at latest Wednesday March 10.

University teachers are in the second week of their nationwide industrial action in demand for better conditions of service.

Government has however appealed to pay the University Teachers in three tranches but UTAG insists their allowances must be paid in bulk.

Speaking on the Ultimate Starter Tuesday, NUGS education and Democratization Secretary Eugene Ackom Damtey said the payment of  ex gratia to members of the fifth parliament of the fourth republic has deepen the woes of the students because the lectures feel they have not been treated fairly.

Mr. Damtey said the leadership of NUGS is still in talks with stakeholders pending a final determination between government and UTAG.

“If it doesn’t go positive as we [NUGS] are expecting, then it means government on its own part haven’t played its role well and UTAG on its own hasn’t liaised with government to have their problems solved.

“And for that matter we the students who are being affected by this strike action will then go and demonstrate against the general government and UTAG on this issue because we are being affected to a larger extent” Ackom Damtey stated.

The demonstration is expected on Friday and all member unions affected will converge at the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.

By: Julius Yao Petetsi/Pravdaradioonline.com/Ghana

National Service personnel to direct traffic

 
The 2013-2014 deployment of National Service Personnel will for the first time see some of them directing road traffic, to support the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

The personnel who are going to be deployed to work along side the police, will be given special training to enable them perform their duties efficiently.

The initiative which forms part of the National Service Scheme’s long term strategic plan is expected to reduce traffic congestions in major cities of the country.

This was announced by Vincent Senam Kuagbenu, Executive Director of the National Service Scheme at this year’s 2013-2014 pre-service orientation forum, which was attended by 700 prospective service personnel.

Mr. Kuagbenu disclosed that from next year, a new module will be introduced to expand the scheme’s operational areas. This is going to focus on aforestation in the three Northern Regions where desertification and harsh weather conditions are rampant.

He hopes the project will help reduce the impact of climate change that is threatening the region.

Addressing the personnel, Chairman of the National Media Commission, Ambassador Kabral Blay Amehere who was the Guest of Honor, advised personnel to accept postings to any part of the country to serve the nation.

He said it was one of those services he actively took part in some years back, which has made him what he is today and therefore encouraged them to do same.

He added that honoring national service is an opportunity that helps personnel to gain more experience in life and also helps them to know about the country.

He charged them to use the knowledge they have acquired to effect change in society since there is an enviable recognition awaiting them.

From: Myjoyonline.com          

The University Student’s Association of Ghana (USAG) has cautioned labour unions in the country to “stop the unprofessional conduct of exploiting the unfortunate partisan political status which now characterizes public sector remuneration in the country.”

Expressing their position in a press statement, the group noted: “had our politicians, political parties and their rented press and PROs taken an objective and nationalistic stance on this policy, perhaps we would have made better progress with the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) than we see currently.”


Below is the full press statement

Right from the onset, comments, pronouncements and the posture of our politicians and political parties meant that the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) would be more than a “good policy” intended to cleanse the inconsistencies and discrepancies that characterized public sector compensation as at then.

While the policy was well intentioned, the provincial, self-seeking, polarized, partisan and propagandist positions and dispositions of our policitcians and political parties, who will always want to score inexpensive and unnecessary political points led to a plethora of comments about the SSSS, which were either half-truths, deviations and sometimes outright lies. Had our politicians, political parties and their rented press and PROs taken an objective and nationalistic stance on this policy, perhaps we would have made better progress with the implementation of the SSSS than we see currently.

Can you imagine, that at one point in time the IMF was blamed for the challenges of implementing the SSSS; this is how low we have stooped as a nation, over 50 years of independece we still find it relevant to blame some foreign countries and/or institutions for our shortfall, ills, mismanagement and underdevelopment.

Going forward, USAG will want to inform and caution all labour unions within the country that there is no faultless, flawless and perfect system in the real world, they should desist from making their sometimes unrealistic and inequitable demands and should stop the unprofessional conduct of exploiting the unfortuante partisan political status which now characterizes public sector renumeration in the country.

Politicians, poltical parties, national leaders, social commentators and all others must also desist from making political capital out of the whole issue. We dare say that it is about time an objective, dispassionate, wholistic, nationalistic and critical examination of the whole SSSS policy is undertaken, and definite answers found to the challenges that have characterized the implementation of the SSSS so far, and possible challenges that could pop up in the future.

We use this opportunity to make a strong case for GNAT and NAGRAT to go back to the classroom while they together with other stakeholders work jointly to address their concerns.



Source: citifmonline.com/Ghana

UTAG Strike and Actions Taken So Far

Even as the GNAT and NAGRAT Strike was about ending, we were duly informed of impending UTAG Strike, so we made a visit to the UTAG Office in Legon.
Thus in releasing our concern about the GNAT & NAGRAT Strike w expressed our misgivings about the general Labour unrest and called for a Multistakeholder meeting to dispassionately take a closer look at the SSSS and matters evolving.
These are some of the links to the publication:

http://citifmonline.com/?id=1.1311682

http://www.modernghana.com/news/453941/1/politicization-of-the-ssss-cause-of-labour-unrest-.html

Recently we have had time together with NUGS Executives and some SRCs to meet and discuss the issue. We met the Legon UTAG President who briefed us on the meeting they had and he suggested ways of resolving the impasse. He however emphasized that payments doled out to MPs had entrenched the stance of some of the UTAG Chapters. On that same faithful day, we met with the VC of Legon who was sure that by end of day Monday the strike may come to an end.

On Sunday, i.e. yesterday, there was a general meeting by a cross-section of student leaders at Legon to discuss the Strike action. Though NUGS had already sent a letter to Flagstaff house to stage a Peaceful Walk to the place, it was a agreed that rather a strongly worded statement be sent out by NUGS, followed by a letter of intention for demonstration to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.

So at this juncture the student body must be ready to show their displeasure at the seemingly lack of action on the UTAG Strike, albeit we will be exploring other avenues at successfully mediating in this situation.
Thanks to you all.

 

              BY, 

USAG President (2012/2013)

Gone too Soon (Mr. Alexander William Ofosu)

The SRC announces, with deep sorrow,the unfortunate demise of Mr. Alexander William Ofosu, The immediate past SRC Vice Prez which happened exactly a week ago, 30th March, Easter Sunday. The family celebrates his one week memorial today at their residence opposite the Botanical Gardens. The SRC invites all friends, n all sympathisers, to the celebration of our fallen leader,comrade, n a soldier in the lords army.
Buses will be available @ the parade grounds at exactly 3p.m, to convey sympathizers. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Signed
Eben Bonsra
(SRC President, KNUST)