Snob violent politicians, Oteng Gyasi urges students

The youth, particularly students have been advised to stay clear of politicians who would attempt using them to foment trouble during this year's general election.

Mr Anthony Oteng-Gyasi, chairman of the University of Ghana Council, who made the call, however encouraged them to take part in all legitimate electoral activities.

He cautioned them against allowing themselves to be used by politicians to further illegal electoral activities such as violence and unlawful demonstrations.

"Too often, the youth of our continent have been misled into dangerous activities during election times and some have lost their lives and limbs in the process only to find the so-called leaders and instigators of opposing factions cozying up to one another later on with scant memory of the pain and anguish they inflicted on their young supporters by prodding them on to indulge in all manner of unlawful deeds." he said.

Mr Oteng-Gyasi was addressing freshers at the 60th Anniversary Matriculation of the university in Accra on Saturday.

A total of 11,700 students out of 22.865 who applied were admitted into the university to pursue various programmes.

Mr Oteng-Gyasi who is also president of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), reminded the students that by pandering to the whims or such politicians "they become pawns in their political game" and will therefore not be rendering the expected services to their parents, guardians and tax payers who have all played a part to get them educated.

"You must always remember that this country needs you in more important roles than as electoral violence cannon fodders." he stressed.

He also warned the students against cheating in examinations saying that if anyone attempted it he or she would be found out and no single person can intervene on his or her nehalf".

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Clifford N.B. Tagoe. said out of the total number admitted 6.272 have enrolled as undergraduates while 1,023 out of the 1.352 admitted for the post-graduate level have enrolled.

Additionally, he said 1.739 were admitted for the Distance Learning Programme and over half of the numner have already registered.

He said 435 foreign students were admitted by the university for this academic year.

On financial aid schemes he said the university has instituted three new scholarships for its students.

The Vice Chancellor mentioned the various expansion works at the university as including the Law Faculty, the Physics Laboratory and the Balm Library which are at various stages of completion as well as the new Faculty of Engineering Sciences building the Central Laboratories for the Faculty of Science and new hostels.