STATEMENT BY THE COALITION OF STUDENTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO PUSH THE COST OF UTILITY BILLS ON STUDENTS. 28/04/15

The Students of Ghana appropriately extends warmest appreciation to you our friends in the media for joining us today. We cannot be more appreciative to those who have concerned themselves to these times that our education is being threatened and the prospects of young people guaranteed by Tertiary Education is about being collapsed for the single inordinate policy choice of a Government that purports to trumpet a social democratic agenda.  I accordingly welcome you student leaders herein gathered for mastering the courage of justice and truth and assembling here with this impressive numbers to support this noble cause especially for those within our ranks who by the sheer ineptitude of this Government policy would abort their programs of studies.

Ladies and gentlemen, on the 25th of March, the Government of Ghana convened a certain stakeholder’s consultation following series of hints that this Government harbored objectives of failing on its mandate ushered by the ‘1998 Cost- Sharing Educational policy’ which we have come to popularly call the Akosombo Accord. This policy (which has travelled close to two decades) framed the current arrangement of the components of the cost of education that must be split and subsequently shouldered by the individual and the government. Following the Stakeholder’s forum, Government skillfully championed its agenda through the vehicle of a certain Stakeholder’s communiqué that leaves more questions than answers clearly with an attempt to force the cost payment of Utility bills at the blind side of students.

Ladies and Gentlemen, following public students’ outcry over the clandestine attempt by the Government of the day, to defer its responsibility to the already burdened students, the Ministry of Education has attempted to suggest that this policy is only under consideration. Unfortunately for the Ministry of Education in its spin business, the Universities across this country are processing the fees of students for the next academic year and this includes the cost of utility bills for the next academic year and this is outrageously being pegged at an average of 550 ghs per student across Tertiary Institutions.

This therefore suggests that the cost of Education especially for the fees paid by tertiary Students for the next academic year would increase approximately by 550 ghs; An incident with enough potency to force several of our ranks out of school and definitely out of their career paths.

We the Coalition of Students and Student Leaders by this Press Conference oppose vehemently this ill thought through Government policy  and our established resolution is grounded firmly on the following pillars.

1. That the government of Ghana has failed on its pledge to cushion education of its citizens by bearing the cost of Utility bills and the results of the Government of Ghana’s financial indiscipline shall not be the latent drive of the government to pass on its social compact expectations on its citizens. We are reminded that at this same time that Government has and is still failing to carry out its mandate to the tertiary student, reports suggests increasing waste of expenditure in the use of the public purse in several government engagements. We recommend that close monitoring of government expenditure and a war of corruption would save enough for the public purse to be used in paying for Utility bills at our tertiary institutions.

2. We would resist any attempt by Government to force the hands of students to bear the arrears of Utility bills owed by the Universities as a consequence of the failure of government of Ghana to exercise its responsibilities.

3. That the failures of the University officials and government agencies to ensure the prudency of the use of electricity by some students shall not be the burden of the several innocent students

4. That Government of Ghana has failed according to page 19 of the it’s own 2012 manifesto to ensure upgrade and construction of Residential Facilities in existing public institutions cannot support the weak proposition of government to place students into sections of those housed in Halls and those in Private hostels.  The students in the private hostels who form a constituent of the several SRC’s we head as student leaders don’t have any challenge with students leaving in University Residential accommodations not paying for Utility bills. The Government of Ghana has a more honorable equity call to achieve by building more Halls for all students to have access in these Halls of Residence on our various campuses and not by charging all students Utility Bills.

5. We the students of the coalition mandated by the popular will of the students of Ghana are clearly aware of the failure of the Government to credit the account of GETFUND with its full statutory payments. Logically, it is pathetic how expenditure in education is decreasing but the government of Ghana still does not have enough funds to finance its historical responsibilities for the Tertiary students.

The way forward

1. As a fact of passionate action we declare officially the education red alert crusade. Every student of Ghana must identify with something red to register our displeasure until the Government calls off this sickening policy.

2. We would in the coming days organize mass student rallies across the country to press home our demand.

3. That the single event of Government closing its ears, establishes a point for a nationwide call for Tertiary students to push out this government in the coming 2016 elections

4. We are embarking on mass media campaigns to ensure that the government does what is right.

5. We request an official correspondence from the office of the President and the Ministry of Education recalling this policy and stating clearly that Tertiary students would not bear cost of utility bills.

We thank you all for your patience and granting us some audience. This country would live on, leaders are temporary but the country’s destiny must be safeguarded. Education would not be sacrificed for political convenience. We thank you and God bless us all.

SIGNED

DUKE AARON SASU(SRC PRESIDENT- KNUST)0501396305

OTENG AMPNSASH ENOCK(SRC PRESIDENT-UMaT)0246122392

EVELYN D. SAPPOR (LOCAL NUGS PRESIDENT-KNUST 0246601503

ANDREWS AMPONSAH (SRC PRESIDENT, UEW-KUMASI)

MICHAEL K WADWO  NKETIAH (STUDENTS ACTIVIST AND  CONVENOR, 0244509345).

Y3NTUA UTILITY BILLS PRESS CONFERENCE



PRESS CONFERENCE!  PRESS CONFERENCE! ! PRESS CONFERENCE! !!

TERTIARY STUDENTS OF GHANA

          🇬🇭PRESENT🇬🇭

EDUCATION IS A RIGHT BUT NOT A PRIVILEGE!!!

REMEMBER IT'S ALL ABOUT THE UTILITY BILLS

VENUE :CONTI JCR

DATE: 28TH APRIL, TUESDAY

TIME: 10 AM

ARISE STUDENTS... JOIN THE Y3NTUA UTILITY BILLS PRESS CONFERENCE

         ..............

            SIGNED:

DUKE AARON SASU

SRC PRESIDENT (KNUST)

MUTINTA  EVELYN SAPPOR

NUGS PRESIDENT (KNUST)

OTENG AMPONSAH ENOCK (UMAT SRC PRESIDENT)

ANDREWS AMPONSAH

(SRC PRESIDENT-UEW (KUMASI) )

Paul Gyan

Former SRC President

(UDS-Nyankpala campus)

RAPHAEL ABOLOMASOM

FORMER SRC PRESIDENT

(UDS- TAMALE CAMPUS)

GEORGE AGYEKUM  LARBI

NUGS PRESIDENT (UNIVERSITY OF GHANA)

Contacts: 

0501369305

0246122392

0246601503

0501378437

0548134772

PAYMENT OF UTILITY BY TERTIARY STUDENTS, THE GHANAIAN STUDENT CAN’T PAY FOR THE FAILURE OF AN INEPT GOVERNMENT.

In life, we all strive for perfection and all seek to improve upon whatever we already have. It is therefore only pertinent that when one is down, humanity finds ways of raising the other up. “he who is seeking to do the best thing needs to be assisted”. This is an Akan adage which has absolute significance in the life of every individual.

It is therefore absurd that any government in the quest to help its citizenry will bring those up down to the level of those already down. 

Government is citing inequality as its reason for taking off utility grants to tertiary schools. At the moment, an average Academic facility user fee (school fees) of public tertiaries in Ghana is GH₵900.00 and residential facility user fee also averaged at GH₵650.00. Already, parents are finding this amount difficult to bear. With the removal of the utility grant, there is the likelihood of an addition of an average GH₵300.00 to this already neck hanging exorbitant moneys burdening the ordinary Ghanaian. 

Education is supposed to be a right not a privilege. Every Ghanaian child has that right to be educated. It is not supposed to be a reserve for the rich. Education should not be an avenue to create luxury for the rich at the expense of the vulnerable. 

The 1992 constitution in Article 25(1)C states “higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means and in particular, by progressive introduction of free education”. The Article 25(1) A&B deals with Basic school and Secondary education.

By this provision, education should be progressively free and not progressively expensive beyond the ability of the ordinary Ghanaian.

The lazy way of always bringing those up down to measure for equality is sickening. 

“We want to increase intake in college of education so let’s cut allowance off”, it’s bad. Increase the allowance, build infrastructure and let that be a motivation for people to opt for college of education, not this lazy cocoon ways. You want to bridge the gap between nonresidents and residential students so you share cost with the vulnerable students? It’s sluggish. Build infrastructure and let people move to university provided halls or find better ways of helping the non-resident, don’t push utility cost to the residential students. 

If this is what governance is, then everybody could be president? Governance is not for lazy people with lazy ideologies, it’s for people who have the mindset, the ability, the wisdom and the knowledge to up those who are down not to down those who are up.

Okudzeto Ablakwa is a disappointment.

Many would have thought that Okudzeto Ablakwa having been a student leader before would have been there to speak for the ordinary students. With him a young man with just a first degree been made to take charge of the tertiary division of education and to deal with professors was meant to be that, he will use his experience as a former student leader at the tertiary level to fight the cause of tertiary students. However, he has all of a sudden turned his back against the Ghanaian student and is the one spearheading this “murderous” policy.

I am therefore calling on my national executive to bite the bullet and speak to this government in the language he understands. Over 75% Ghanaians are school going people, you cannot toil with the lives of these people. Enough of the boardroom, roundtable and “k[ nom tee” discussions. “Aluta” should be the way forward. We cannot fail the ordinary Ghanaian. They have entrusted in our hands their power and voice. The national leaders of NUGS should rise up, all local NUGS presidents should gang up against this treacherous policy. Let speak the words of this government. 

Prosper Dzitse’s administration will never be forgiven if this policy succeeds under his tenure. The lengthy chat I have had with some of my colleaques the Local NUGS Presidents indicates that, we are ever ready to give our national leadership any needed support to fight this cause. However, we shall not entertain any cowardice move. 

The ordinary Ghanaian students cannot be burden with extra cost because of the failure of any inept government.

Aluta continua! Victoria Ascerta.

Education is a right! Not a privilege!!.

Kwasi Frimpong

Loc. NUGS President

UEW-Ajumako campus

#SayItRight

0201833775

NUGS EXECUTIVES CHALLENGE HON. OKUDJETO ABLAKWA OVER HIS CLAIMS THAT STUDENT LEADERS HAVE ENDORSED THE PAYMENT OF UTILITY BILLS BY STUDENTS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

20th April, 2015 

SHOW US THE COMMUNIQUÉ OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE 

We leadership of NUGS have received with utter dismay, comments attributed to the Deputy Education Minister (Tertiary Division), Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa to the effect that stakeholders in education including student leaders have agreed to a cost sharing arrangement between government on one hand and students on the other in respect of the payment of utility bills at the nation's tertiary institutions. Hon Ablakwa initially made this revelation at KNUST on April 15 whilst addressing students during the second edition of the Ministry's campus connect series. He has since been repeating same on several media platforms he grants interview to. This development has justifiably created a lot of fears and panic among students across the country; many of whom have vowed to take us on for such gaffe. We therefore deem it expedient to come clear on the matter and put the facts in proper perspectives.

In setting the records straight, we wish to begin by stating unequivocally that the claims by Okudjeto Ablakwa are factually incorrect, spurious, and as such should be disregarded by all. We are by this release, DARING hon. Ablakwa to make public the said communiqué he claims forms the basis for government's decision to partially withdraw utility subsidies to be borne by students which was reached at the end of a stakeholder meeting. If Ablakwa fails to produce that communiqué which he claims received the endorsement of NUGS (or its rep), then he should not only desist from making such claims, but should also retract and render an unqualified apology to the leadership of NUGS for this unwarranted disservice else we shall advise ourselves. 

If government intends to withdraw utility subsidies to public institutions, then it should gather the necessary courage to make that point loud and clear rather than this cowardly approach of trying to "implicate" student leaders in this enterprise as a coverup for government's unpopular move. It is very much obvious that government is afraid of the consequences and political ramifications of such move hence the decision to play a smart one at all of us. 

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to once again state emphatically that NUGS has NOT consented to any communiqué that involves levying students the cost of utility bills. In fact, we are still yet to see the final resolution or communique of the stakeholder meeting held on 25th March at UPSA Auditorium. We therefore find it disingenuous that Ablakwa continuously makes reference to this communiqué that nobody but himself has seen. Why hasn't it been issued to the media as agreed upon? Obviously, a communique cannot be a secret document and we demand to see it NOW and NOW. Enough of this political gymnastics and merry go round hon. 

We wish to conclude by reiterating our long standing impregnable position in respect of this matter that NUGS shall vehemently RESIST any attempt by government to surcharge students for utility bills. That will not and cannot happen else the students of this country will shake the very foundation of our government with an unwavering ALUTA.  

Thank you.

Signed 

Iddi Muhayu-deen

NUGS General Secretary

(0245335197/0202789171)

Rhodalyn Eshun 

Press and Info Secretary

(0246701359)

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE COALITION OF STUDENT LEADERS FOR ACTION (COSLA) ON THE UTILITY SURCHARGE …..SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2015….

The Coalition of Student Leaders for Action has taken keen noticed how our current NUGS National Officers led by Hon. Prosper Dzitse treats the ordinary students with disdain on the issues of government’s proposal to surcharge the already suffering student with the payment of utility bills.

The aftermath of a stakeholders meeting of which Hon. Dzitse together with Hon. Iddi Nurudeen are believed to have represented students interest have been characterized by rumors and speculations with regards to the outcome of the said meeting. There hasn’t been any official statement from the NUGS on its stance about all this utility brouhaha and seeming silence from those who were physically present in the said meeting is worrying.

The NUGS Secretary is unofficially on record to have denied that any meaningful agreement have been made between the student front and government at the said meeting. Subsequently the Deputy Education Minister in charge of tertiary education Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa is reported to have said student leaders have agreed and signed to government’s proposal of paying for utility bills starting from the upcoming academic year.

We will like to press home strongly that we are gradually losing faith in the leadership of NUGS’ ability to strongly defend and protect the interest of students of which they promised to do. We therefore want Hon. Dzitse to officially state the stance of NUGS on this matter.

The coalition will also want to unequivocally state that the Ghanaian student is on red alert and we will resist any attempt from any quarters to burden the already suffering student. Government is been reminded that under no circumstance will we pay for additional utility charges. As the Samuel Binfoh led administration resisted this move in the past, so will we do even if our current leadership fails to do same.

We will like to remind those in the helms of affairs as far as education is concern that we won’t sit ideal for education to be the reserve of the rich. Education they should remember is a right not a privilege.

Signed

Justice Edward Baah (0247822785)

Paul Kwesi Gyan (0548270430)

Oteng Amponsah Enoch (0246122392)

Thomas Takyi ( 0546060200)

UEW-W LNP KWAKYE (2014-2015): PRESS RELEASE BY NUGS-UEW- 20th April, 2015

-------------------------------------------

With just a day more to the General SRC and Hall Elections, the heat is mounting as aspirants run up with their campaign.  NUGS-UEW calls on the  various aspirants to do away with any political alliance or affiliation to make students' politics a wholesome one.  

It is time we conduct our elections as students, devoid of interference from political parties. The incidences on the University of Ghana campus(Legon Campus) should not happen on our campus.

Once again we (NUGS-UEW) calls on all stakeholders of this year's election to play their roles with high level of diligence and dignity. The electoral commission should conduct a free and fair election, the SRC providing the necessary support (financially) and eschewing any interference or favoritism. The aspirants also should advice their supporters to fellow due procudures at the various polling stations, using legal means to address grievances. 

The electrates are also adviced to use amicable means to put the grievances across. They are adviced to go to the polling station with their students' ID cards or print out and follow the queue for their turn to cast the vote.

No NDC, NPP, CPP, PPP etc interfering with our elections. This is student politics and not a political party's primaries to be invaded, influenced and controlled by NDC or NPP. Candidates who are forming alliance with political parties, those teaming up with other candidates to 'fight' other candidates all in the name of getting support from the parties are advice. We are following their actions and they will be exposed at due time.

Anyone caught in any unlawful act before, during and after the election will be dealt with accordingly.

Good luck to all aspirants (SRC, NUGS and Halls) and may the best candidate win. 

Long Live NUGS-UEW

Long Live UEW

Long Live Student Activism

Alluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta

.....Signed.....

Alex Kwakye Mensah

NUGS President, UEW

.....Signed.....

Aglago Sitsofe Kwame

NUGS Secretary, UEW

20th April, 2015.

WELCOME ADDRESS PRESENTED BY FRIMPONG GILBERT ASSUMAN, NUGS PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION WINNEBA, AJUMAKO CAMPUS, COLLEGE OF LANGUAGES (COLANG) ON THE OCCASION OF NUGS EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT HELD ON SATURDAY, 18TH APRIL, 2015 AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Guest of Honour, Our Learned Speakers, National Executive of the National Union of Ghana Students, Colleague Students, Ladies And Gentlemen, All Protocol Dully Observed. It is my singular honour to be called upon to deliver the welcome address of this all important Empowerment summit. We at the NUGS secretariat taking cognizance of the numerous number of Ghanaians joining the Unemployed Graduates Association of Ghana (UGAG) saw the need to put this program in place to equip students with the necessary cognitive tools on how best they can secure or establish their own jobs after completion of school and to be able to sustain.

Speakers from all walks of life, academia, clergy, commerce and health have been put together to speak to students under the theme “Transforming your world using language”

Our distinguished speakers will speak on topics such as 

• Securing or establishing your own job and sustaining it in today’s competitive job market.

• Daring to make a difference using your course of study (Language).

• Becoming an Astute Leader in Today’s Competitive Job Market.

• Staying healthy as you dare to make a difference in today’s competitive job market.

Mr. Chairman before this program, NUGS UEW-A organized a health screening this morning to help students know their Hepatitis B and Blood Pressure status.

As I speak, a team is standing right in front of this hall to register students for the Ghana Students Discount (GSD) card. 

Mr. Chairman, holders of this card are automatic benneciaries of discount up to 30% at some selected shops and companies in the country. I will therefore entreat students who have still not registered for this card to do so since different companies keep on registering with the GSD every now and then.

Mr. Chairman, most often than not, students of UEW have called the relevance of NUGS in the school into question. I can’t help but to agree with them and even the more anytime I hear them speak. For what is the relevance of a group that even though students elect people to occupy positions such as president and other offices have to be dictated to by an ‘OVERPOWERED’ SRC.

This year’s NUGS Excellence Award on this campus has been called off because in the view of the SRC this all important program that seeks to reward deserving personalities (students and staff) for serving this campus is not relevant.

It is for this reason that I make a passionate call on the Students Bar Association, the Students Parliament and other interest groups to start the debate on as to whether NUGS should continue to be under the dictates of the SRC. Thankfully, this year is a constitution review year and each and the onus is on each and every one of us here today to right the wrong. I will therefore entreat all students to join this debate to liberate NUGS from the dictates of the authoritative SRC.

Fellow students, ending my speech which is supposed to be a short one and I think it has been, let me reiterate a passionate call continually made by our Vice dean of the Faculty of Languages that Ghana has come of age where the nation needs a clear language policy. I will therefore use this opportunity to plead with policy makers to take this into consideration and get Ghana a vivid language policy which will include making the Ghanaian language a core subject at the senior high level.

On that note Mr. Chairman, I welcome you all and thank you for coming.

Long live NUGS

Long live COLANG

Long live UEW.

🙌EDDY JUSTICE ON UTILITY BROUHAHA🙌

The rumors and speculations are too much. Students of Ghana are left in the dark. All manner of information are thrown to us. The hear say and the I said.
It is on record and I speak on authority that the NUGS General Secretary Hon. Iddi Nurudeen at a point vehemently denied that they have agreed to students paying for utility bills in the next academic year.

Subsequently the Deputy Education Minister is said to have revealed that student leadership have agreed to the proposal.

MY TAKE✋✋

I want to give Hon Iddi the benefit of the doubt and believe NO agreement have been reached.

On the other hand, IF it's true that NUGS have signed any document then the NUGS President Hon Prosper Dzitse should come out and officially have a say on that. I hope am right to presume that if the immediate above holds, then Hon Dzitse has sold the interest of the Ghanaian student for a chicken change without conscience and prior approval of the appropriate body as well as his colleagues National Officers.
I know there are still some officers with integrity to protect and call on them to come clear on this issue.

I will like to use this medium to send a strong signal to all stakeholders in education that the Ghanaian student will resist with his blood any attempt to make education a reserve of the rich. Education they should remember is a right not a privilege.

The WE WON'T PAY campaign has just began and our leaders should take a clue.
# I SHALL RETURN

JUSTICE EDWARD BAAH
(LOCAL NUGS PRESIDENT UDS NYC.
0247822785)

PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE PRIVATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (PUSAG) AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON APRIL 15, 2015 PUSAG WITHDRAWS FROM OKUDJETO ABLAKWA’S “CAMPUS CONNECT SERIES” AND APPEALS TO PRESIDENT MAHAMA FOR HIS IMMEDIATE REASSIGNMENT OR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

The Private University Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) wishes to officially inform its numerous constituents, students of Ghana, stakeholders in the education industry as well as the general public that it  DISASSOCIATING itself from the “Campus Connect Series”, which is a programme that is being rolled by the tertiary education division of the Ministry of Education under the leadership of Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa, the Deputy Education Minister; which would see officials from the Education Ministry, Ministers of State as well as other government officials visit all tertiary institutions across the country to interact and connect with students. 

The association is accordingly appealing to President John Dramani Mahama to immediately reassign the Deputy Minister in question or better still, remove him from office for gross incompetence, nonchalance and lack of interest in the affairs of private universities and their students across the country. Failure to heed to our call would be inimical to the electoral fortunes of the NDC government come 2016. 

First and foremost, the decision by PUSAG to withdraw from the ‘Campus Connect Series’ and subsequent call for the head of the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of tertiary was arrived at by the national leadership of the Association after deep reflection and thorough consultation with all the people that matter in respect of the two issues. In the case of the former, we think it is a misplaced priority and an absolute waste of time and energy for the Ministry of Education and for that matter Ablakwa’s outfit to spend huge amount of money and scarce resources to embark on that fruitless venture at the expense of the taxpayer. As we speak, the nation’s education sector is overwhelmed with several seemingly intractable challenges which ought to be the preoccupation of Okudjeto Ablakwa and not this so called “Campus Connect Series” which we see as a deliberate attempt and a clandestine move to woo students into coming to terms with government propaganda message ahead of election 2016. 

In any case, Okudjeto Ablakwa cannot claim to be oblivious of the countless challenges and problems confronting university students in the country. Why do students have leaders? Why the existence of national student unions? In the specific case of private university students, how many times haven’t we met him personally to lament about our numerous problems and the needless neglect from government and its agencies to our issues?  What efforts has he made towards addressing the issues? Hasn’t he always been dismissive of our concerns with the argument that government’s primary obligation is to public universities? Hon. Ablakwa has never attended any of our programmes even though we always send him official invitations. Not even has he ever acknowledged receipt of any of our letters to his outfit. In fact, the least said about his demeanour and comments anytime we visit him with our issues, the better. 

He treats our matters with absolute disdain as if we are not Ghanaian taxpayers just like our counterparts in the public universities.  Assuming without admitting that he has always been right with his assertion, then why does he now want to visit us in our schools to acquaint himself with our problems when he thinks we don’t matter? Isn’t this a classical case of what we call a populist display of political gimmickry to make his government look good before private university students?  We also do not need him and his team in our schools and we are accordingly directing all SRCs in private universities not to cooperate with the so called “Ablakwa’s campus connect team” should they make any attempt to visit them. 

If Ablakwa pretends that he and his government are unaware of our problems, then we wish to remind them as we always do; even though we doubt very much that they would make any attempt to address our issues. In as much as we are not calling for parity with respect to how government treats our counterparts in the public universities, we nonetheless think that as Ghanaian taxpayers and in the letter and spirit of our national constitution which enjoins us to see education as a due right and not a privilege, government must consider some of its actions and policies which do not auger well for the educational wellbeing of students in the nation’s private universities. Our issues are quite innumerable but we are going to attempt mentioning just three of our peculiar issues which we find topical; 

CONCERNS REGARDING GETFUND 

Private university students have always pleaded with the NDC government to extend the mandate of GETfund to include us as it was the case in the past. It is worth making the point that during the erstwhile kufour government, many private university students including Zenith university College, Ashesi University College, Valley View University, Wisconsin International College, Islamic University College, Methodist University College, Central University and many others benefited enormously from GETfund projects and programmes in the form of computers, scholarship schemes, buses among others. We really do not know what has changed that this government thinks that the private university student is no longer deserving of any kind of support from GETfund. 

For God’s sake, we are also Ghanaian taxpayers who ought to benefit from our taxes through government educational policies. We are not requesting for projects on the campuses of private universities but rather policies that would directly benefit us as students. 

After contacting GETFund representatives on this issue, they indicated to us that their outfit (GETFund) has no problem supporting private universities once government gives them the go ahead. So it is a matter policy which has to come from government and does not require any legislative amendments per se. In fact, they added that the previous NPP government took a deliberate decision through an intervention by the Education Ministry at the time which allowed GETFund to extend support to private universities during their reign. However this government has refused to continue with that policy for some incomprehensible reasons.  Surprisingly, when we raised this concern before Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa, he chose to lie to us that until parliament reviews the current GETFund Act, there is no way government through GETFund can offer support to private universities. This is one of the several legitimate reasons why we think that Hon. Ablakwa has outlived his usefulness at the Ministry and as such; he must go because he has exhibited a lot of bad faith in his dealings with us.  

IMPOSITION OF TAX ON PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

PUSAG still contends that government’s decision to slap private universities with a needless 25% corporate tax is very unpopular because of the rippling effects on the students. It is apparent if returns that could have been used to expand school projects and pay whooping expenditure bills like fuel for electricity are taxed then the only option is to adjust fees to settle them. Hence, this explains extra charges resulting in an alarming increase in our fees. It is a fact that no government in the world has ever contemplated taxing education because it is indispensable and an essential necessity for national growth and development. Why is the situation different in Ghanaian government? Must we go taxing everything simply because we want to increase our revenue? PUSAG pleads with government to reduce the tax rate to about 10% if they cannot completely do away with it. It is our strong conviction that the tax waiver government gives to industries in the private sector as well as the removal of corporate tax on farming tools and raw materials in the 2015 budget should also be extended to private universities if government is really committed to the development of the private educational sector of the economy. 

THE UNIVERSITY CHARTER 

The granting of autonomy or charter status is another area where private universities face great discrimination and injustices from the State. Government tells us that as a matter of policy, a private university must exist for at least 10 years before it qualifies for a charter (independence). The issuance of a charter to an institution essentially means that the institution among other benefits; becomes autonomous and hence wouldn’t have to pay the affiliation fees to government through the National Accreditation Board which is renewable annually as well as course accreditation fees to mentoring universities. However, as we speak, records show that there are a lot of private universities including the Central University College, Pentecost University College, Methodist University College, Ashesi University College among others that have existed for more than 10 years and have met all the other criteria necessary for the grant of a charter but are deliberately being denied. 

Only one out of the 68 private universities operating in the country has been given a charter which is Valley View University; which is now doing very well because of that. Interestingly, this happened in 2003 under the NPP government at the time the university was only 7 years. We do not understand why this government is deliberately refusing to mind private universities that are legitimately due for charter; a development that continues to hinder the proper administration of those universities. The case of Central University College and Ashesi University College is a classical example.  Surprisingly, the situation is completely different in the case of public universities because as we speak, government has given charter status to all public universities including those that are less than 3 years.  How more unfair could that be!

From the foregoing, it is palpably evident that government has shown very little commitment to the concerns of private university students in the country and we are calling for a complete reversal of the situation with immediate effect. Unfortunately, Hon. Ablakwa’s ‘Campus Connect Series’ is not and cannot be the solution to our problems and that is why we are not going to be part of it. PUSAG thinks that Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa has exhibited bad faith in his dealings with private university students because he is very much aware of our problems but refuses to act on them as the Deputy Education Minister in charge of the sector.  

In the light of this, we wish to conclude by reiterating our official position that private university students do not want to have anything to do with the embattled deputy minister for education, Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa and are therefore appealing to His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, our listening president to listen to the loud cry of the over 100,000 private university students and alumni in the country and accordingly reassign him with immediate effect. 

We are sorry to state that in the unlikely event that our plea is not attended to within a reasonable timeframe, and then we shall be compelled to stage an enormous nationwide demonstration to drive home our legitimate demands. We are also serving notice of our unwavering resolve to seeking for legal redress in the earlier concerns we raised should government remain unmoved. Enough is certainly enough and private university students are now poised for action in the interest of JUSTICE.  

Thank you.

Long live PUSAG

Long live Mother Ghana

Signed

Mohammed S. Adams 

National President - PUSAG

(+233 20 933 6562/+233 26 084 2929)

Please share........

FREE FORSEN NOW, UGSRC DEMAND

PRESS RELEASE
The University of Ghana SRC would like to,on behalf of
all students, state that it doesn't support the
detainment of Mr. Stephen Forson by the Bureau of
National Investigations (BNI).
The notice of his arrest came to our attention yesterday
and it was a shock to the entire student body. We have
a functioning constitution that has been tried and
tested. The said constitution has set out procedures to
tackle situations like grievances In elections.
It is our belief that there's the need to respect our
constitution and allow our established systems to work.
The detainment of Mr. Forson negatively impedes our
processes as it has gotten the entire University
community worried.
As such we add our voice to the campaign that he be
released to allow our process to work. This is a stand
that is supported by both candidates in the election and
we agree. We hope this release meets all stakeholders in
good spirit.
(SIGNED)
Joshua Dogbey
SRC PRESIDENT
Joshua Andrews-Egyir
SRC Vice President
Janet Tukpeyi
SRC General Secetary
Ama Safo Nyarkoah
SRC Treasurer
Issued By: The Public Relations Office of the University
of Ghana Student Representative Council.

INVITATION TO THE 2ND CENTRAL COMMITTEE (CC) MEETING OF NUGS

Kindly accept compliments from the National Secretariats of the National Union Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) .
Please be informed of the Second Central Committee (CC) meeting of the Union as scheduled below.
Date: 2nd May 2015
Venue: The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) , Sunyani.
Time: 12:00pm prompt.
The agenda includes;
1. Ratification of NEW CC members
2. Presidential Address
3. Minutes of Previous Meeting
4. Secretariat's Report
5. Institutional Reports.
6. Inspection of Land /SOD Cutting for the NUGS-Hostel Project.
7. Distribution of the 2013/2014 Congress Souvenirs
8. AOB

NB:
1. ALL INSTITUTIONS MUST COME ALONG WITH THEIR RECEIPTS OF PAYMENT FOR CAPITATION AND DUES FOR THE 2013/2014 NUGS YEAR.
2.There shall be a brief NEC meeting before CC commences, hence all NEC members are entreated to be on time for the meeting, which shall commence at exactly 8:00am
3. All institutions should present written copies of their institutional reports to the Coordinating Secretary on arrival.
Counting on your unflinching support even as we wish you incident-free journey to Sunyani.
Thank you.

Yours in Students' Service

Paul Worlanyo Adanu
(Coordinating Secretary)

Prosper Dzitse
(President)

THE VISIBLE HANDS OF PRESIDENT MAHAMA IN SRC ELECTIONS

Nearly a month and a half ago, I received a surprise visit from two operatives of the BNI, both friends of mine. After our usual chit-chat, they asked for my objective opinion on the chances of candidate Mikdad Mohammed. I told them frankly and summarily what I thought of him and his chances. That, I thought, ended the matter.

On the 10th of April, 2015 at exactly 5.42 PM, I received another call from my BNI friend. He asked about the elections and the margin of victory between Fobi and Mikdad. He placed it on record that they had and were monitoring the elections, yet again, I gave my honest assessment of the entire election as briefly as I could.

I later confided in my good friend and brother Atick Yakubu. We simply laughed over the matter; to us, the BNI was probably as shocked as the sour loser Mikdad.

This morning, a day after the Mikdad Mohammed inspired frivolous and conspiratorial election petition was filed, Stephen Ato Forson, in a clear case of abuse of power, has been invited to the BNI Offices. And what does the Odikro think?

The Odikro says it is shameful and desperate that candidate Mikdad Mohammed who considers the position of SRC President to be his birthright would lobby the corridors of power and attempt to subvert the will of the students through acts of intimidation as we are seeing.

The Odikro says the events confirm how dishonest Mikdad was being when he claimed he was not receiving any partisan support. Further, it shows how dishonest he is as a person and how quickly he would bring the entire reputation of the school's electoral system - the same system that elected his boss Edem- just because he lost.

It would make us more grateful to God, to fate and to intelligence for the salvation we have received by not electing Mikdad Mohammed.

To those who think they can have their way through the backdoor to ascend to the Presidency, the Odikro says, they should keep dreaming.

Kofi Timtooni Opare Hagan

THE VISIBLE HANDS OF PRESIDENT MAHAMA IN LEGON STUDENT POLITICS.

It is sad to be told that the Gentleman called Steve Forson whose software has for the past five years saw to peaceful elections at the University of Ghana has been picked up by the BNI this morning because the president believes for the first time in four years the choice of students is not his choice of a silent leader who will dine on the table of his government. 

This development is a shame which adds credence to assertions that the president of Ghana is the ultimate decider of who leads the Legon SRC and not the students. This unfortunate development must be corrected with immediate effect and an apology rendered to the man because the Senior and Junior members of this University are able to handle all electoral disputes and issues amicably.

We the students of the University are disgusted by this act and will not hesitate to march to the streets if this anomaly is not corrected with immediate effect.

Mr. President, kindly respect the law that establishes the University of Ghana, and respect also the students of the University,  we believe in good governance, we believe in quality leadership, we believe in incoming President Fobi and any attempt to thwart our choice of president will not be met with smiles but with tears and with courage. 

God bless our homeland Ghana and make our Nation great and strong. BOLD to Defend FOREVER the course of FREEDOM and of RIGHT.

#Let Steve Forsen go#

Kwame Apenteng

0279703243

Nana Bobie 

0246914805

REMOVAL FROM OFFICE – MR. NDITSI WONDER Y.D.R. (UPSA-SRC FINANCIAL CONTROLLER)

10th April, 2015    

As per Article 10(4) and the powers vested in the Ordinary Chamber of the UPSA SRC Constitution, the Chamber deemed it a duty bound to remove Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246) from office as the SRC Financial Controller on the grounds that he has violated Article 6(3) (b) and (d) and also fraudulently registering for the first semester of 2014/2015 Academic year, a kind of circumstance which should never have occurred.

The Chamber received a notice from some concern students pertaining to his studentship and upon receipt of confirmation from the Director of Academic Affairs it has become obvious that Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder skipped level 300 second semester registration rendering him illegible to hold a position in the UPSA SRC as per the spirit and letter of the UPSA SRC Constitution.

In the said letter, the Director of Academic Affairs writes that Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder with index number, 12BAW246 did not register for the second semester of the 2014/2015 Academic Year.

Strangely, Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246) contested for the SRC elections within that same period when he was not a registered student, hereby flouting Article 6 Clause 3 (b).

This development has prompted the University to conduct investigations to find out how it was possible to skip a whole semester and still be parading around.

The issues for discussion were as follows:

1. Article 6 Clause 3 (b); Thus to qualify to contest an SRC election one must first and foremost be a registered student of the University.
The spirit behind such a provision is to be able to hold persons who hold office as SRC executives accountable for their stewardship and to guard against a situation where the non-students can hold the SRC to ransom or at worst bolt with the funds or assets of the SRC.

2. Mr. Nditsi Wonder attested on his nomination form for election that he was a registered student of the University. He again declared that if any information he had provided proved false, his nomination and subsequent election to office should be held as null and void. Here too, there is evidence to that effect.

In the opinion of the court:

It is clear that Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246) acted willfully with the sole purpose of circumventing the laws of the SRC. His behaviour and conduct is not in tandem with the spirit of probity and accountability.

By this deceit and reckless posturing, Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246) has called into question the registration structures of the University.

On the basis of the quality of the evidence and its unquestionable nature (submitted as Exhibit A and B) and other facts of the case, this court (the Ordinary Chamber) has no hesitation whatsoever in declaring that Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246) was elected into office illegally.
We hereby order as follows:

1. The nomination and subsequent election of Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246) to office as SRC Financial Controller is null and void.

2. It should be noted that Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246) never held office as SRC Financial Controller. His details must be erased from all records as Financial Controller for the year 2014/2015.

3. This court declares that his conduct is criminal and fraudulent.

4. The Executive Council is charged to retrieve all assets of the SRC in the possession of Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder (12BAW246).

5. The Audit Council is also charged to retrieve all the allowances and other benefits that has accrued to his advantage within the period that Mr. Nditsi Yao Dogbey Romeo Wonder Romeo (12BAW246) has illegally held office.

6. The Executive Council must take all these steps within 5 working days (Monday April 13 – Friday April 17, 2015).

7. Failure of the Executive Council to act in this direction will be implied as gross disregard for the jurisdiction of the judicial board and the intended consequences will apply in that event.

Other Directives
The SRC Secretary is hereby charged to take over as both the Secretary and the Financial Controller for the rest of the tenure.

Thank You

SIGNED

MENSAH D. YAYRA
(CLERK, JUDICIAL COUNCIL)

HAJARA ISSAH MOHAMMED
(CHAIRMAN,ORDINARY CHAMBER)



CC:
THE DEAN OF STUDENTS
DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
SRC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
SRC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SRC AUDIT COUNCIL
MR. NDITSI WONDER Y. D. R.
ALL NOTICE BOARDS

"ISLAM IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. AL-SHABAB IS RESPONSIBLE."

CHARWAY WRITES📝📝....

A real fight can be appreciated when you fight someone with the capacity of fighting back. 

I will like to use this medium to join hands with millions around the world who mourn and share in the concerns of activists across the globe to condemn the demonic act of the cowards, Al-Shabab, at the Garissa University College in Kenya. 

I unconditionally condemn such an inhuman act of the group under the cover of Islam. I will like to state before I proceed that ISLAM IS NOT RESPONSIBLE BUT THE GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE. 

I am a Christian and therefore have no knowledge about the Quran but from the knowledge I have acquired over my years of study shows that, no religion supports the slaughter of human beings especially women and children.

I wish to extend my condolences to families and friends who have lost their love ones during this act. 

I also wish all injured students speedy recovery to enable them get back to their lecture halls to join their peers.

I will entreat all across the globe to continue in their peaceful co-existence with their Islamic brothers for Al-Shabab is not a representation of the Islamic faith. 

I also want to appeal to the legal machinery to order for an immediate investigation into the arrested 5 for the law to take its due course. 

GOD BLESS HIS LAND 

GOD BLESS THE LAND OF KENYA.

CHARWAY JOHN NII

SRC PRESIDENT HOPEFUL

UG-ACC. 

(A friend to the Islamic Caucus)

0542348709.

God dey! Bibiaa b3y3 fine. 

"Competent and proactive advocacy"

TOGETHER WE STAND: NASPA MUST NOT COMMIT THE UNPARDONABLE SIN OF ALLOWING THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) TO BE SCRAPPED UNDER THE PRETEXT OF THE PENDING LEGAL TUSSLE.

Following the suspension of the 6th Terminal Congress, you may have heard that there's going to be yet a new system to replace our time-tested, traditional structure regarding NASPA leadership. This new system, as cruel as a tyrannical monarchy, operates devoid of National Executive Committee (NEC).
That is, NEC will be abolished leaving NASPA to function only up to the Regional level.

Without a shadow of doubt, the realisation of this will be nothing but a total subversion of the provisions under the NASPA Constitution, a parody of justice and a sheer suppression of the people's will.

I shudder to say, we can continue to bury our heads in the sand, and thus, pretend that there exists no line between the Association and the National Service Scheme.
It is clear: the Association and the Scheme are intertwined in the scheme of affairs, especially when the challenges confronting both are human-related. As such, the peaceful co-existence of both is imperative!

We must therefore HOLD AN ELECTION TO GET NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVES in place to deal with such matters as UNNECESSARY DELAY AND POOR PAYMENTS OF ALLOWANCE to all service personnel.

Hence, let these impeccable words go forth to every Tom, Dick and Harry that the survival of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) is inextricably connected to the betterment of both the service personnel and the Scheme in this context of a compulsory national service to Ghana.

With this prelude, let me make it clear that there is a palpable need for all national service personnel of goodwill and intent to RISE and DEFEND NASPA to operate at all levels including the national level.

It won't be easy, but we must not flinch from a responsibility by which generations unborn will judge us. As rightly echoed by Abraham Lincoln, "The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just."
Let's therefore stand for the conduction of elections of National Executives. We deserve it!

May God bless us all, NASPA and Ghana!

Submitted by:

Baba Suleman A.
(NASPA President - Brong-Ahafo Region)

A SPEECH DELIVEERD BY RAPHAEL KUMAH ABOLASOM, OUTGOING SRC PRESIDENT, UDS TAMALE CAMPUS AT THE HANDING-OVER CEREMONY HELD ON 4TH APRIL 2015 AT THE ICT AUDITORIOM OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

Effective leadership is not about speeches: leadership is defined by results-Peter Drucker

Mr. Chairman, the Dean, the senior assistant registrar, senior hall tutor, head of security, representative of the National NUGS President, past SRC/Nugs executives present, outgoing executives, incoming executives, the media, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen I am very much appreciative of the fact that I’m here today, to deliver my last official speech as an SRC President of this noble institution. I must say, it has been very grueling but it was worth it. We wouldn’t have come this far as an SRC administration if not for the never ending grace of God.  

I appreciate the support we received from management of the university, student populace, friends and most of all my family. I would have loved to mention names but the list is unending. On behalf of all the executives, I say’ we are grateful for your guidance and unflinching support. I must also specifically commend the general assembly for its objectivity in its dealings. My abled team of committee heads, deputies and members, you have done yeo man’s job. I am grateful and honored that you whole heartedly worked with me and it has been a success

Mr. Chairman, distinguished ladies and gentlemen we came into office last year, on 19th of April 2014 and we in all regard upheld our promise that, ‘we won’t fail you” .

Kindly permit me, Mr. Chairman to outline our achievements as SRC in the following areas:

✅Academics

1. SRC procured and mounted 11 projectors for Tamale Campus;  thus SMHS, clinical years, and FoE Campuses

2. In our tenure as SRC, there was an extension of internet access to the LIBRARY BLOCK and addition of a different portal ‘student Wi-Fi’ to the already existing one.

3. Academic committee’s efforts and meeting with the examination officer to release time table on time for necessary corrections to be made before examination starts.

4. SRC IN partnership with GMSA organized an academic related seminar at the ICT auditorium

5. The Counseling unit partnered with the SRC to organize a career seminar for all final years.

6. The SRC facilitated the formation of the Tamale Campus debate society and its purely funded or sponsored by the SRC

7. SRC organized a career and motivational seminar for students’ during the SRC week celebration and it featured Abdul-Abass Muiz (Idea123Gh),  Abubakar Sadique (Visat 1), Baba Yemme (Ghanaweb)

✅WELFARE

8. We hosted the first ever Campus connect programme which brought to the door step of UDS Tamale students an opportunity to interact with the policy makers of our country.it featured the likes of the deputy minister of education, Tertiary,(Hon. Samuelo Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of communication, Dr Omane Boamah,Prof.Mahama Duwiejua(executive secretary National Council for Tertiary Education), Mrs Sheila Naa Boamah( Executive officer, Students’ loan trust fund) Mr Ras Mubarak,Ag. Cordinator, National Youth Authority, Hon.Joyce Bawa-Mogtari (deputy minister of transport, Hon. Fiifi Fiavi Kwety ( Min for food and agriculture)

9. In Our quest to bring the SRC to the door steps of students, we initiated

” A MORNING WITH SRC “This made it possible for students to interact with the SRC and to also expresses their grievances. It’s rather unfortunate that we could not visit all the classes. We therefore urge the incoming SRC to take it up.

10. SRC met with the leadership of the taxi drivers where an agreement was reached and that the extra charges that were paid by students when coming from town at odd hours was reduced to the normal daily taxi fares.

11. The SRC has promulgated and established the “WELFARE FUND ACT 2014” to take care of brilliant but needy students. 5% of SRC dues shall be transferred annually into the welfare fund account to cater for purposes of the fund deemed fit by the board. Copies of the document are available at the Office of the Dean of Students, Office of the SRC and the Library.

12. SRC funded the re-wiring of lecture room 6 at ICT Block. This was done to compliment the School’s efforts in addressing students’ welfare issues. If students would remember, that particular room has been without light for almost 4 years until now….

13. SRC was able to set up a vibrant housing committee, which ensured that students particularly freshmen and women sat in the comfort of their homes to secure accommodation of their choice

14. The SRC, for the first time was able to secure buses which conveyed every student who opted to join the buses to KNUST for the TTFPP orientation. Yes, it has happened before but this time round no single student was left behind.

15. In our tenure as SRC, broken seats at the lobby were repaired during the first trimester. Some of these have been broken again and we urge the incoming SRC to kindly work on that

16. Open forum was organized and for the first we witnessed an encouraging attendance where issues relating to students welfare and academics were discussed and some solutions given to some problems.

17. Faulty fans and fan regulators were bought and we replaced the spoilt ones at the SMHS library block and ICT block. This done by the SRC

18. Some faulty sockets have been replaced and work is still ongoing. This was funded by the SRC to

Compliment the efforts made by the school in addressing student’s welfare needs.

19. Activation of the Tamale Campus SRC Facebook page to keep students posted on the happenings of SRC and it now has over 1,567 likes as against 223likes when we took over last year. Thus www.facebook.com/Udstlc

20. We have also created a twitter handle for the purposes of communication between the SRC and other students. Thus www.twitter.com/UDS_TamaleSRC

21. The SRC through the procurement process has Created  the first ever functional Tamale campus SRC website thus;

www.udstamalesrc.edu.gh this will make it possible for students to access lecture notes, assignments and also ask questions in class by using the students’ portal feature on the website. 

22. SRC Constructed two notice boards for  the faculty of Education, FoE campus

23. SRC purchased extension boards for the various classes that had no extension boards.

24. Free Screening and first two doses of Hepatitis B vaccine for all first years was made possible by the SRC

25. SRC purchased and mounted 44 INCH LED TV at Faculty of education, FoE Campus

26. In our tenure as SRC, management of the faculty of Education, FoE complimented the efforts of the SRC by bringing into fruition another registration center at the FoE Campus. This gesture relieved FoE Students of the burden they had to go through to get registered on SMHS campus 

27. Furthermore, orientation for the freshmen and women also took place at graduate school for FoE students the first time.

28. Freshmen and women were given SRC souvenirs    with each student receiving

-5 exercise books,

-One SRC constitution,

-a broche and

- A POLO T-shirt.

All these items were provided after registration. This is the first time this has happened on Tamale campus.

29. Foreign Students are  represented in the executive council of the SRC by their President: Onyelusi  Evaristus

30. SRC made sure that Street lights that were faulty at the beginning of the trimester were worked on and are still  functional

31. Package and motivation for all course reps (some of whom are yet to receive their package),

         - 2 broche,

         Exercise books

32. SRC initiated and has operationalized “the monthly communication allowance support” for all substantive course representatives. This started  in  November 2014; even at a time that our funds had not been  released  by management

33. Presence of police patrol on our campus has come to boost the security of students on campus. However a lot of robbery cases still go on in the Dungu community and we urge the incoming executives to liaise with management to find lasting solutions to the situation

34. Lighting system at the clinical year and SMHS c ampuses were restored

35. The SRC through the procurement process has constructed 60 seats capacity summer huts, for Tamale Campus. Thus, 60 seats on SMHS and 20 seats at the faculty of education which is yet to be completed.

36. Registration of Associations and clubs on Tamale campus

-International students association

-upper East students Union

-Brong Ahafo Students Union

-Northern Students Union

-St Charles Old boys Association

-Midwifery Students Association

-Development Students Association

-Basic Education Students Association

-Early Childhood Students Association and many others.

37. Tamale Campus placed 2nd in football, 2nd in basketball and 3rd in volleyball at the just ended Central SRC week celebration in Navrongo.

38. SRC renovated the old notice boards constructed by our predecessors’

39. The SRC for the first time has awarded all course representatives(both substantive and deputies) certificates of honor

40. All committee allowances due the various committees have also been paid

✅SPORTS

41. SRC purchased two sets of Jerseys  for Tamale Campus

42. The SRC Purchased 5 sets of  Bips for the sports Unit

43. SRC Purchased a table Tennis board for Tamale Campus

44. Faulted satellite dish located at the medical school was replaced just a day after swearing in. This made it possible for students to watch football matches and other educative programmes on campus.

45. First ever in the history of Tamale Campus to have had sporting event inside the main Tamale sports stadium and the annex

46. Motivation and awards for associations as well as  sports men and women  who distinguished themselves during the SRC games.(cash prizes, certificates and sculptures

47. SRC initiated and has operationalized a keep fit club for students on the Tamale campus  (Both SMHS and FOE).  The sports committee, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, must be commended for such an initiative. The school participated in GUSA games; however we were medal less.

48. The SRC(faculty of education-Foe)  had Joint sporting event with Nyankpala campus

✅ENTERTAINMENT

49. AMARABA BASH at  the Hunter’s night club

50. For the first time in about 22years of the establishment of the University, we were able to secure a lecture free week for our local SRC week celebration with massive attendance. This is unprecedented.

51. A First ever street carnival held at the graduate school.(FOE)

52. First ever in the history of Tamale campus to host a national artiste ‘LIVINGSTONE BURNITON’ (STONEBOY) during THE LOCAL SRC WEEK CELEBRATION.

53. Recording of the Tamale campus Rap-cypher is also complete the video will soon be seen!!!!

54. SRC supported Miss Elsie Afriyie, a second year Community Medical Nutrition Student at the just ended Face of NUGS beauty contest held in Accra. Indeed she raised the flag of UDS higher by being the second runner up out of about seventeen participants from different institutions. We are really proud of her.

55. SRC held the love in the 80”s valentines programme

56. Tamale Campus placed 2ND in the face of UDS beauty contest held in NAVRONGO

57. Participated in the central SRC week celebration held in Navrongo. Tamale Campus made sure that out of the 6 days spent there, the buses conveyed students 5times.

58. SRC facilitated the formation of the Jama Club at FoE. It’s also funded by the SRC

✅SANITATION

59. The NUGS caucus purchased and supported Tamale Campus with dust bins

60. SRC constantly liaised with the sanitation unit and made sure the environment  and wash rooms were kept clean and tidy

✅ONGOING PROJECT OF THE SRC

1. Construction of a printing press where secretarial services will be provide and another chamber used as an office for the SRC President. It is through the procurement process

  

✅OTHER ACTIVITIES

61. SRC has paid all G.A allowances to G.A members. It is worthy of mention, that the SRC for the first time in the history of Tamale Campus paid allowances to G.A members during our first G.A meeting even though funds  from management was not ready. 

62. The SRC in partnership with the Tiger Eye screened an anti-corruption documentary on the 1st of November 2014 at the Radach conference Centre

63. SRC in partnership with #1simplestep# organized a forum on the Country’s constitutional review process on 2nd  of  December 2014 at the ICT auditorium

64. SRC vehemently took part in a press conference organized by the National NUGS office which made sure that the government rescinded its decision on the removal of subventions and subsidies to public universities. This press conference was held in Accra at the NUGS SECRETARIAT on 22nd July 2014 at UG-City campus

65. We also attended NUGS, central committee, at UCC

66. USAG NEC and senate were also attended in order to push for the interest and general welfare of students at the National Front at Christian Service University, Kumasi.

67. NUGS congress was attended at Akrokere

68. USAG Congress was also attended in Sunyani at Christian Service University. These congresses saw to the election of National Officers representing the student front

✅CHALENGES

1. Late release of funds for SRC activities and projects

2. We appreciate the temporary space given to us by the SMHS to use as office, we however still plead with management to give us a permanent location where we would be able to host our other counterparts from other universities. As it stands now it’s only Tamale Campus among the 4 UDS campuses that still does not have a standard office.

3. Failure on the part of management to offer accommodation to SRC/NUGS executives as means of remuneration though enshrined in the SRC constitution accepted by the University management

4. Over reliance of students on “item 13” before attending SRC programmes.

✅RECOMMENDATIONS

1. We recommend you review the SRC/NUGS constitution; the percentage of funds entitled to WOCOM should be increased. We will avail ourselves should you need our help in this regard and any other

2. Regularize your interactions with the students through the “morning with the SRC”

3. The SRC needs a legal person to advise it on legal matters as issues of SRC gets complicated day in day out

4. Venues for programmes should be alternated between FoE campus and SMHS

5. The SRC should liaise with the management of Faculty of Education to find a lasting solution to the transportation issue that comes up any time students from FoE are to attend ICT lectures on

SMHS campus

6. Establishment of a campus radio is worth recommending .

7. In consultation  with the Alumni President ,a Tamale Campus alumni Association should  be formed   to help in the development and growth of the SRC which subsequently could help in drawing a strategic plan for the SRC.

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the Dean, the senior assistant registrar, senior hall tutor, head of security , representative of the National NUGS President, past SRC/Nugs executives present, outgoing executives, incoming executives, the media, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to express how grateful we are to the Dean of students, he has been not just a guardian but our father as well, Sir, may God richly bless you: to the management of Tamale Campus particularly the senior assistant registrar-smhs, faculty officer-FoE, we appreciate your constant and unflinching support. On behalf of my executives, I say a very big thank you to all who in one way other contributed to our successes

We have lost good friends, good people, and heroes -- every one of them. Grief demands an answer but sometimes there is none. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families. They will be remembered, and neither will we forget those who served out of the spotlight; to whom we owe our gratitude. We will rise renewed, stronger and united. As we exit as past executives and you take over as new executives, I believe this is our time, our chance to get and give back the best of who we are. Let’s throw the match, lets burry our differences, set the past ablaze, start this new administration with the right people, right friends, right networks, and right groups even if that means you will have to “be alone.”  As time passes on, things and circumstances definitely will change and I urge you to keep keeping on….. Those we may have wronged, we ask for forgiveness and we hold no grudges against you either .I am glad we made it this far together.

Thank you for being there and for your support.

God be with you till we meet again.

Long live Tamale Campus

Long live UDS

Long live Ghana

RAPHAEL KUMAHABOLASOM

SRC PRESIDENT, UDS-TAMALE CAMPUS (2014/2015)

Endorsed for publication-SRC PRO(Ayamga Robertson-0542176440)

NUGS STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF KENYA.

The course of good exercises are challenged with hurdles and ferocious intimidation but the good Lord who gives and takes and grants rest to the weary has answers to whatever happens to his children at every point in time.

With the above words, we at the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) wish to convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the government, families, staff, friends and the people of Kenya on the gruesome murder of 147 students of the Garisa University with several others injured.

Our hearts are filled with grief upon hearing this sad news and therefore deem it fit to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace. To those who sustained various degrees of injury, we share in your sorrow, we are with you in prayers, and wish you a speedy recovery.

It is very sad that many a loved one in Kenya would not have a peace of mind to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ but we pray that His death and resurrection consoles everyone that is affected by this massacre.

We therefore want to use this medium to condemn this act of Terrorism and therefore charge the Kenyan Government under the leadership of H.E Uhuru Kenyatta to divert its attention and also hasten efforts to bring the perpetrators of this act to book while offering preventive measures to curb any further attack.

We also call on all African governments, ECOWAS, AU, UN, and all stakeholders to join hands and most importantly be proactive in the fight against terrorism which is gradually gaining ground in a number of countries and needs the effort of everyone to curb it.

The activities of these terrorists should be seen as a threat to international security and therefore be tackled with all the seriousness before things get out of hand. As they say, injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere.

#WeStandWithGarisa

LONG LIVE NUGS
LONG LIVE KENYA
LONG LIVE AFRICA

SIGNED:

 Anthony Abavelim
 International Relations Officer NUGS
+233504530008

 Prosper Dzitse
President - NUGS
+233546580044