Dr Opoku Prempeh commends NUGS for activism at 57th Congress

The running mate to presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has commended the current executive of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) for the pursuit of better conditions for Ghanaian students in the country and those learning outside Ghana.

Delivering the keynote address at the 57th NUGS Delegates Congress at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Opoku Prempeh, also known as Napo, said such activism exhibited by the executive was exemplary.

Dr Opoku Prempeh also paid glowing tribute to previous executive who led NUGS, adding that their actions led to many breakthroughs for Ghanaian students.

"The number one duty of NUGS is to ensure that they prioritise the needs of Ghanaian students by holding governments accountable so that it worked to better their lot and improve quality of life through education," he stated.

Interest

Dr Opoku Prempeh called on NUGS not to shy away from making their voices heard on national issues, adding that the body should take an interest in politics, adding that currently the issues of illegal mining and the need to sustain the free SHS policy were matters that required their inputs.

The President of NUGS, Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh, for his part, noted that the activism of the student body had yielded results as efforts from the current executive had ensured the release of stipends to Ghanaian students studying in Ghana and abroad.

The President also noted that the executive had held government accountable in the timely release of GETFUND for schools in the country.

Achievements

Mr Kyeremeh said NUGS under its current executive had been able to construct six-unit classroom blocks in the Oti Region and another, adding that it has also been able to launch its NUGS stipend fund to support the education of persons with disability and the poor in universities.

Currently, NUGS he revealed, has put into use a 100-acre land given to it by Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo by growing maize, cassava as well as many legumes, cereals and vegetables on same.

He said NUGS had also started catfish farming and currently had over 1,000 of them in its ponds.

Nana Akwasi Awuah, Chief Executive Officer of the Precious Minerals and Mining Company (PMMC), said the theme of the event, "De-politicisation of Education; the Role of Stakeholders", was apt.

Nana Awuah commended the government and the Asante King for consciously investing in education, an action he noted was aimed at creating a brighter future for Ghanaian children and youth.

Speaking at the event, a representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said the King was so concerned about the education of the Ghanaian student more than ever.