NUGS UNITY CONGRESS 2012 IN RETROSPECT

 The 46^th annual residential delegate congress of the National union of Ghana students  (NUGS) was officially opened at the conference room of the great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi on the theme “funding of tertiary education; a private or public responsibility.

The congress, which was scheduled to take place from, the 8^th-12^th of August 2012, was dubbed “NUGS unity congress 2012” and essentially brought together leaders of the two NUGS factions: Peter K .Kodjie and Osman Ayariga Abdulai to forge a common front. Also In attendance was delegates and student leaders from across the nation’s tertiary institutions including, Ghana institute of Journalism (GIJ). The purpose of the gathering was to elect national officers to steer the union’s affairs for the 2012/2013 academic year, as well as elect representatives to the student loan trust fund (SLTF), and the National youth authority (NYA) boards and deliberate on issues which are pertinent to students welfare.

As part of the program, members observed a minute silence in memory of our late President, Professor. J.E.A Mills .It was also expected that a communiqué would be issued at the end of the congress on the theme.

The special guest of honor at the opening ceremony on the 9^th of August, 2012.Hon. Mahama Ayariga, deputy education minister was represented by the Ashanti Regional Director of education, Mr. Joseph Kwabena Onyina who spoke briefly on the theme of the congress and the importance of tertiary education to the overall development of the individual. While bemoaning student leaders and for that matter, tertiary students to be innovative in order to generate ideas that will engender the growth and development of our nation .He was quick to add his voice to the current NUGS impasse by commending National officers for taking a bold step to unify the student front.

Peter K. Kodjie and Osman Ayariga, presidents of the two NUGS factions for the 2011/2012 academic year, when given the opportunity were singing virtually the same song, having acknowledged the fact that leading a broken union was embarrassing and challenging. Indeed, they indicated that their credibility was usually put to a litmus test anytime they appear to represent Ghanaian students on national events. They were also not happy about the current state of the union, including the fact that the union does not have a permanent secretariat and the reality that the student front is bedeviled with myriad of challenges. However, they were grateful to Ghanaian students for exhibiting tolerance to the two factions and to all who contributed to the unity process.

The chairperson at the opening ceremony, Mr.Rester Togormey, former GRASAG president was not happy of the current state of the union, but was optimistic that NUGS can relive its former glory and this he added can only happen if we refrain from pushing our personal agenda above that of the larger students out there.

There were also fraternal messages from the blocs of NUGS such as GUPS, USAG, GRASAG, PUSAG, TTAG, and Regional SRC. Despite the late start of the opening ceremony, coupled with the poor allocation of rooms for delegates, it was our hope that subsequent events will be smooth and peaceful, but it was never meant to be.

According to NUGS Katanga Accord Watchdogs.”The 46^th annual delegates congress of the National union of Ghana students (NUGS),held at KNUST ,Kumasi was from abi initio a flop as National officers demonstrated gross disrespect ,intransigence and ineptitude towards the very people from whom they derived their mandate. Beyond the unpredictable security situation (ignited after machete was found in a National officer’s car on the day of elections) and the unashamed abuse of the constitution, some National executives at the time were alleged to have been massaging the voters list to favor their preferred choice”.

It is also worthy to note that, the central committee (CC) meeting which was scheduled at 7pm on the 9^th of August, 2012 to rectify the electoral commission, the audit committee as well as consider the secretariat and vetting committee reports among others could not come off as planned. This eventually became a reality the following day, August 10, 2012 at 3pm.

This repeated delays of scheduled programs ,including voting coupled with the tense atmosphere created before voting by the factionalized NUGS leadership and their attempt to subvert the supreme mandate of Ghanaian students necessitated 38 SRC and Local NUGS Presidents to step in to salvage the situation.

Indeed, the congress eventually grinded to a halt at the late hours of Sunday, August 12, 2012  after 38 SRC and Local NUGS Presidents of member institutions, in a crunch meeting ,passed a resolution ,at the University Hall ,Katanga to suspend the National officers and retrieve all assets of the union in their possession as well as halt congress.

To this end, the NUGS Katanga accord empowered a 7-member interim management committee (IMC) to see to the election of National officers within the shortest possible time and demand accountability on the part of National officers for a more committed union to fight the plight of Ghanaian students devoid of greed, hatred, partisan interest and Mephistophelian machinations.

Beyond this report, I recommend:

·        That the IMC and for that matter the Ghana police service, must take remedial steps to investigate the allegations surrounding the role Mr. Samuel Mante, former NUGS Projects and Programs Secretary played in the hiring of “macho men “to intimidate delegates at the congress.

·        Then again, allegation that suspended General Secretary, Mr.Tafhim Gbonta was carrying brand new cutlasses in his car on elections day; must not be put to sleep, but investigated thoroughly so that if found culpable, he be made to face the full rigors of the law.

·        In the near future, standing security personnel should be put in place to forestall the tension generated by supporters of the two leading Presidential candidates, Mr. Jude D. Sekley and Mr. Andrews Kofi Gyan (Agya) especially the gross indiscipline exhibited by the jama group, Royal Bobo Kingdom of University of Professional Studies. (UPS)

·        In addition, the practice of delegates eating their lunch at 6pm and supper at 11-12pm must never be allowed to repeat itself.

·        Lastly, the Electoral Commission of Ghana must be invited to take charge of the union’s elections, as a remedy to National officer’s attempt at massaging the voters list to favor their preferred candidates.

Steve Kubate Salifu

GIJ Local NUGS and GUPS Secretary.