The Ghana United Nations Students and Youth Association (GUNSA) says
government’s efforts to expand and increase access to high school
education deserves commendation and support.
The association is however asking government to create what it calls
window of opportunities for adequate national consultations on both the
Free Senior High School (FSHS) and the soon-to-be implemented Double
Track System to allow for more inputs to strengthen the success of the
initiatives.
A communiqué issued in Accra at the end of the 42nd Annual National
Convention of GUNSA at the University of Ghana in Accra said to the
extent that the policies by government seeks to make more young people
literate and prepared for future challenges, the needed support ought to
be offered.
“There are thousands of young people who didn’t get the chance in the
pre-FSHS as a result of limited access created by what we all know it to
be cut-off points. The sad fate of those people, wherever they are,
must inspire us, as a nation to do more to ensure everyone gets access
to secondary education”, newly elected General Secretary of GUNSA, Mr
Emmanuel J.K Arthur told journalists.
The association is urging government to commit adequate funding for the
provision of more classrooms as well as the provision of more teaching
and learning aids to enhance the quality of the FSHS programme.
Meanwhile, GUNSA is now fully revived and has new National Executives to
stir the affairs of the organisation for next two years.
The new 8-member team is head by a trained teacher, youth activist and
an event organiser, Kwashie Klu-Duvor as National President to be
assisted by Eric Bernard Lutterodt and Emmanuel Nana Kojo Ansah as First
and Second Vice Presidents respectively.
Journalist and public relations practitioner, Emmanuel J.K Arthur is the
new General Secretary and has Mr Marcus Garvey Ashiangmor as his deputy
while the position of National Treasurer and Women’s Commissioner were
won by Irene Enyonam Kwashie and Monalisa Olivia Brew respectively. A
development professional, Anane Yao Kuwornu was elected National Youth
Wing Co-ordinator.
The elections took place at the just-ended 42nd Annual Delegates
Conference of the association held at the Institute of African Studies,
University of Ghana on the theme “Harnessing the potentials of youth and
students for national development”.
The 4-day Conference discussed national and international issues and
evaluated the progress of the association, one of the oldest youth
groups in Ghana and re-aligned its vision and mission to the current
challenges of the times.
GUNSA was formed in 1963 to champion the cause of the United Nations
capitalising on the strength of youth and students. The outcomes of its
previous annual conferences have shaped many national policies and
programmes.
The association operates in second cycle and tertiary institutions. It
also has a community-based outlet known as the Youth Wing.
Traditionally, the serving Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Chief
Patron of GUNSA and over the years, the association has produced dozens
of prominent individuals some of whom still occupy national and
international positions.
Among them is the current Vice President, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia; Mr
Alfred Thompson, Deputy Managing Director of the National Investment
Bank; Dr Ebenezer Malcolm, Dean of the Graduate Studies at the Ghana
Technology University; Myra Togoboh of the United Nations Office in
Ghana and Sena Siaw-Boateng, Diplomat and Special Advisor to the Foreign
Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Mr Paul Asare Ansah, former
Director-General of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA) and Mr
Bright Akwetey, a retired State Attorney.
No comments:
Post a Comment