The 10th annual delegate congress of the Ghana
union of Professional students (GUPS) ,was officially opened on the 26th
of July,2012 at the auditorium of the university college of management studies
(UCOMS),Kumasi on the theme “promoting peace in election 2012:the role of the
professional student.”
The congress dubbed “GUPS Unity Congress 2012” brought
together the leadership of the two GUPS factions: Charles Amponsah and Louisa
Ata Agyemang to unify the GUPS front for the 2012/2013 GUPS year and beyond.
Also in attendance, were student leaders and delegates from 13 professional
tertiary institutions across the nation including, Ghana institute of
Journalism.
The congress was organized to elect national officers, to
take charge of the union’s affairs for the 2012/2013 GUPS year as well as
deliberate on issues bothering on professional student’s welfare.
The dignitaries at the launching included the vice rector of
UCOMS, Mr. P.K Achinah,Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, former deputy Ashanti regional
minister and Mr. Gabriel Antwi, representative of the Ashanti regional director
of education among others.
Speaking on the theme of the congress, Mr.Osei Assibey
entreated professional students to eschew tendencies that will put Ghana’s
peace at risk. While emphasizing that we must draw lessons from recent
happenings in cote d’ ivoire. Professional students, he further indicated, have
a moral responsibility to hold politicians accountable by subjecting their
policies, programs and utterances to serious scrutiny.
Meanwhile, he bemoaned student leaders to reject politicians
who want to hold the nation and its laws to ransom. He was also happy about the
peaceful manner in which the transition of power was conducted after the demise
of our late president J. E. A Mills.
The chairperson at the ceremony, Mr. P.K Achinah was happy
that student leaders are making a conscious effort at unifying their front. He
equally used the opportunity to advice students to make informed choices in the
upcoming polls, since that will determine the direction of our country in the
next four years.
Hon. Charles Amponsah, president of GUPS when given the
opportunity, thanked all delegates for making it to congress. He recounted
events leading to the unity congress, but was optimistic that never again will
this unfortunate tragedy befall our great union. He further indicated that
“fostering unity” should remain a slogan that will not depart from us. He
concluded by advising professional students never to dabble in national
politics in ways that dawns negatively on the image of our union.
Hon. Louisa Ata Agyemang, president of the second GUPS faction,
on her part was confident that the union can relive its former glory and that
if the union must remain united, focused and committed to its core values, then
it will take the collective effort of all GUPS members.
A minute silence was observed in honor of our late
President, Professor J .E.A Mills. There were also solidarity messages from
NUGS, NAHSAG, PUSAG, USAG and Regional SRC.
Undoubtedly, the congress was peaceful, well organized and
co-ordinated despite a few hiccups here and there. Indeed the congress was
scheduled from the 25th-29th of July 2012 and after the
launching, the rest of the programs followed suit until our departure.
In all, GIJ presented 11 delegates, including the SRC
President, Mr. Raymond Bayor and the Local NUGS and GUPS president, Mr. Enock
Gyan (Ubuntu).
It is also significant to note that, the vacant positions at
the GUPS secretariat were fiercely contested for even though majority of the
portfolios saw the candidates going unopposed. In all, six portfolios including
the press and information secretary, co-coordinating secretary, international
relations secretary, projects and programs secretary, financial controller and
women commissioners’ portfolio went unopposed.
Interestingly, GIJ presented two candidates, one for General
Secretary and the other for Press and information Secretary.
Mr. Innocent Maunya Azornu, a L400 BA in Communications studies
(Public Relations) student and President of IPR GIJ chapter, won the Press and
information Secretary Slot after going unopposed.
Miss Eunice Mintah Young, a L300 BA in Communications studies
(Public Relations) student and executive secretary of GIJ electoral commission
unfortunately, lost narrowly to Miss Lawrencia Bossman of Jayee University
College by a margin of two. i.e. 41 against 39 after 15 of her votes were
declared invalid due to improper voting.
As a member of her campaign team, I still found it difficult
to fathom why God allowed this to happen. Especially so, when her campaign team,
headed by GIJ GJA President Humphrey Hammond campaign vigorously coupled with
her excellent display of eloquence and oratory prowess at the manifesto reading.
Indeed, many delegates I spoke to after the elections, contend that her name would
forever remain indelible in their minds.
Meanwhile, Michael Paa-Quecy Adu, a L400 student of the University
Of Professional Studies (UPS) edged out his closest competitors, Isaac Obeng of
Jayee University College and Stephen Offei-Baah of Zenith University College to
win the presidency slot.
Beyond this report, I recommend:
·
That it is time we adopt electronic voting at
the GUPS level.
·
Amend the GUPS constitution by making a
provision for an entrenched clause that insists on daytime voting instead of
night voting.
·
That, the electoral commission of Ghana be
invited to take charge of the union’s elections to forestall some of the lapses
we encountered at the congress.
Steve Kubate Salifu
GIJ Local NUGS and GUPS Secretary.
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