City Campus Launches SRC Week

THE STUDENTS' Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana, Accra City Campus, has launched its 4th SRC Week celebrations.

The celebration, dubbed, “Nurturing Students To Become Productive Citizens”, starts from March 3 to 10, 2007.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Kwesi Yankah, speaking at the launch, said student leadership of late has completely changed and transformed the spirit of dedication of nationalisation which was seen in early student leadership.

According to him, students seem to be interested these days, in the extent to which they could transform the campus into a site for business.

“Students were seen seeking to be leaders and be part of SRC because they take this to be avenue for riches and wealth as indicated by the SRC Audit Report,” he said.

Prof Yankah therefore urged students to learn important lessons from men whom the nation was celebrating this week and the whole year, especially the school days of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, whose speech was read on his behalf, said the SRC on campuses were responsible and important bodies, an expression of democracy at the lower level.

He mentioned that when students do not understand the basic properties of democracy at their level, they find it extremely difficult to understand it at a higher level and as well appreciate the properties involved.

The minister said the future of the country was in their hands, therefore, they should take advantage of the Golden Jubilee celebration to achieve their goals as SRC students of today.

The SRC president of City Campus, Mr Apanga Lamtiig Abugri noted, the SRC Week was not all about fun and merry-making, but an opportunity for them as students to learn, socialise and approach the people who voted them to power.

He indicated, it was however important also for them as youth leaders, to campaign for the need for good leadership in the university.

He said the council so far has produced a constitution which was not part of the university's plans, containing institutional rules and regulations on how things should be done.
According to him, through dialogue and consultations between the SRC and management they have acquired a sick bay for the university.

He appealed to management to take a second look at challenges such as high school fees, acute water problem, inadequate infrastructure, and provide street light at the school's junction to ensure total security of students and staff.

The director of ICT directorate of the University of Ghana, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Oware, said, within the next five years, teachers and researchers would be able to use ICT to communicate and collaborate with students within and outside the university.

He explained that billions of cedis have been invested in ICT in a bid to drive all activities using ICT.

Mr Owusu-Oware indicated that within the next five years, research works, journals, books, results and students' financial records could be accessed easily by students within the main university, Legon.

According to him, lecture and class rooms would also be fitted with ICT to promote easy learning, and added that all laboratories have also been automated; therefore, students could access on-line their academic and financial records.

The Dean of Students, Dr Banoeng Yakubu asked students to take the opportunity of the Independence Anniversary to think back, and assess where they are today and where they would be tomorrow as students of this dear country.

He said, as students who were conducting themselves through hardship, in future, they could be productive to themselves, families and the nation as a whole.

“If the SRC takes leadership as the first step towards ensuring development, and helped establish the University of Ghana, they would be able to achieve their goals.”

He urged all students to be on board and help the SRC achieve its noble objective of enhancing the welfare of the university.