FINDING YOUR WAY ON THE STREETS OF LEGON: KNOWING YOUR EXAMINATION VENUE BEFORE THE EXAM DAY

UGSRC KICK STARTS 6,000 CAPACITY BED HOSTEL

Source: Samuel K. Owusu

Undoubtedly, it is the desire and expectation of almost every Senior High School graduate in Ghana to enroll into the University, and most preferably, to the University of Ghana which is the Nation's Hope and Glory and the Citadel of Knowledge in order to pursue their academic excellence. As once said by Plato, "the direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life".

Whereas some students always buy awaiting forms, there are others who wait patiently for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to release their results before they buy  forms to apply. The euphoria that comes to successful applicants after being admitted into the University of Ghana is overwhelming. I was particularly excited in 2018 when I received a message of confirmation of my admission into the University of Ghana. Unfortunately, unsuccessful applicants mostly feel aggrieved, distressed, and disappointed when they do not gain admission into the University of Ghana. This is what I refer to as the Divine Selection. 

Throughout the years, students who have gotten the opportunity to study at the University of Ghana have constantly faced severe challenges in terms of getting accommodation on campus for conducive environment to study. The accommodation challenges for students this year have been unparalleled. These students in their quest to secure accommodation at all cost, mostly turn to be duped by fraudsters who always renege on their promise of getting them accommodation. 

Since the last traditional hall was built in 1963, the University through its successive leaders have tried their best to add up to the already existing halls. Though the University has quite a number of halls and hostels, the huge intake of students every year does not match with the available facilities to accommodate them thereby, making most of them to be non-residents. Some students commute as far as 24 kilometers in and out of campus everyday from their respective abodes. The possible consequences of it is lateness to lectures, stress, motor accidents, and unstable mind to study. 

Inasmuch as the university Management have contributed to the building of halls to ease the accommodation deficit, on the contrary, the successive leaders of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) of  the University of Ghana have adequately failed to put up a single Hostel of their own since the inception of the SRC some decades ago. No attempt has ever been made by the past presidents to kick start any monumental project that will directly or indirectly benefit the student populace. This situation is extremely disturbing and appalling. That notwithstanding, students have been paying all kinds of dues to the SRC, yet, the association cannot point a single monumental project they have undertook that directly benefit students. Elsewhere, by the help of some visionary and competent Students' Representative Council leaders from other Universities like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Education Winneba (UEW), etc., have been able to build their own SRC Hostels 

On July 22, 2022, during the first sitting of the second session of the General Assembly, the 64th UGSRC President of the University of Ghana, Master Prince Asumadu proposed the SRC Hostel Project, SRC Development Fund, and the Study Space to the General Assembly of the Students' Representative Council, which is the highest decision making body and all members of the house gladly received the news and supported it unanimously. Master Prince Asumadu during his swearing-in made it clear to the University community that, the SRC cannot continue to do programs that always take a chunk of the SRC money but rather, the SRC will embark on projects that will directly benefit students

On Wednesday 30th November, 2022, the Asumadu-Ndukwe led SRC administration successfully inaugrated the SRC Development Fund Board, Launched of the SRC Comfort Zones, and the 6,000 bed capacity hostel. "i have always believed that the best leaders are those who deliver on their given mandate. These are long term projects which have been a priority for the SRC. the SRC Development Board has been set up to serve as a security for the development of all student-centered projects initiated by the SRC'. It is my hope, belief and conviction that the board will work tirelessly to ensure that all projects by the SRC are materialised and be of benefit to the entire student body''. Master Prince Asumadu said this during the inauguration. 

This has become neccesary for every student to pay hundred Ghanaian cedis as contribution into the SRC Development fund starting from the 2022/2023 Academic Year. Without a doubt, there is an economic hardship all over the world and Ghana is of no exception but it is of much importance and a necessity for such a project to be constructed today than tomorrow. The present generation will benefit from the project as well as the children yet unborn. Posterity will forever judge us if we fail to build the SRC Hostel today 

The SRC Development Fund Board had its maiden meeting yesterday, thursday, January 12, 2022. In attendance were the Board Chair, Dr. Haggar Hilda Ampadu (Executive Director and Inspector General of Schools at National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), Ministry of Education); Prof. Rosina Kyerematen (Dean of Student Affairs); Mr. Prince Asumadu (64th SRC President); Mr. Boakye Gyasi Martin (65th SRC President); Mr. Samuel Osei Mensah (Student Accountant); and Mr. Benjamin Anyan Botwe (Alumni Rep). The tenacity of this meeting is an indication to me that the board is eager to kick start the SRC Hostel Project without delaying

After the introduction of the SRC Development Fund and the approval by the General Assembly, the inauguration of the Development Fund Board by the PRO Vice Chancellor, ASA, Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, and students contributing now to the fund, I am deeply convinced that the Students' Representative Council of the University of Ghana is now willing, committed and ever ready to build its own hostel. It is my prayer that the SRC Hostel Project will start as soon as possible. 

The Asumadu-Ndukwe led administration envisioned to construct a 6,000 bed capacity hostel for undergraduate students with a shopping center, reading rooms and TV rooms, a basket ball and a tennis court, and an SRC complex that will serve as an administrative block for the SRC. I am of the firm believe that, the current SRC President, Master Boakye Gyasi Martin will do his possible best to make sure that the SRC Hostel Project becomes a reality. This project when completed will solve the accommodation deficit on Legon campus. If not all, at least, it will lessen the burden . More so, it will be affordable for the poor and needy students to secure rooms. Thanks be to everyone who has contributed to this project especially the members of the SRC General Assembly of the University of Ghana for the unanimous endorsement and also the University Management

We are moving to an era where all students will be Residents on campus. A dream we all envisaged. This can only be realized through effective collaboration between the University of Ghana Student' Representative Council, the University Management and all Stakeholders.

Published by: Samuel K. Owusu