Story; Zakaria Abdul Hakim Cisse
In recent years, the incidence of money embezzlement, incompetence, violence, among other gross misconducts, have been seen and reported in student politics in the various institutions of higher education in Ghana.
Both reformists of the past and present-day, have held that the youth of a community is its developmental catalysts. Many agendas have been raised on giving the steer to the youth to drive the political vehicle of the next generation.
Unfortunately, the attitude of a section of student leaders in Ghana especially the tertiary institutions’ SRC and NUGs. We have all seen the acts of violence, the rigging of electoral processes, and spending of students’ money by some supposed student leaders.
Today, even campaigns of leadership aspirants of some tertiary institutions are being fuelled by the two main political parties in Ghana. They go a long way to choosing candidates and making sure their candidate wins.
We have all seen the political interference that is laying its hands on the national elections of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS). If care is not taken, we will be producing clones of our current breed of politicians and they hope we anticipate in the future would not be achieved.
While speaking to Campus 24/7 News on the Personality Profile program, Ms. Sandra Nsoh of the University for Development Studies advised newly elected SRC and NUGs executives, to be honest in their leadership.
According to her, often, many people come to the system with negative intentions and tend to spoil the reputation of the entire leadership.
“I will advise them to be honest. By what I have seen and experienced, no matter how difficult it is, be ready to tell the people the truth’’
Sandra
Sandra advised “I’ve always opined that no matter what if the leaders are sincere, the students will understand and respect them.’’ She again added.
She however said that in as much as people are losing trust in student leadership, others are still honest. Sandra who served in both the Kilwa-led administration and the Zeinab-led administration (both at UDS Nyankpala campus), said that joining student leadership was just a way to contribute to raising her voice and help in facilitating decisions that affect students.
“I never envisioned becoming a deputy SRC Secretary. I only supported the Kilwa campaign team and after the storm, he said he saw some qualities in me during the campaign process and would love me to serve in his administration.’’
Sandra
She served the SRC duly for a year (2018-2019) as deputy General Secretary and was again appointed by the Zeinab-led administration (2019-2020) as the clerk of the SRC general assembly, now student parliament.
The level 300 student has always been advocating for decency and professionalism in student politics.
This is because institutions of higher educations are were future leaders of the country are trained and should they come out with that mindset, then the country still has a long way to go so far us reforming the political sphere is concerned.
